Whether you're using YouthLearn's lesson ideas or adapting lessons found on the Internet or elsewhere, here are some tips to keep in mind:

• Each day should consist of a constellation of short activities and work on extended projects that span several classes. Try to introduce a theme each day that unifies your activities and projects and which builds over time to form a unified curriculum.
  
• You'll also want to take a look at our suggestions for everyday activities that can add consistency and set the right tone for every session.
• Community-building activities offer simple techniques for breaking up your sessions, keeping children focused and getting kids to work together as a team.
  
• Even projects and activities that seem to focus on visual arts or technology should always have a component that reinforces basic language skills or other broader learning goals, and they should supplement what kids are learning in their K-12 classes.
  
• In all of your projects and activities, take an inquiry-based approach to collaborative learning, and consistently use fundamental principles of working with youth, particularly good modeling and pair-share techniques.
  

Remember that the key to all successful activities and projects is good planning. Before you do anything else, determine your main objective. Is it to support a certain skills set or topic, such as vocabulary or science? Maybe the overriding goal is to teach Web page development, in which case a particular topic may be less important than, say, making sure there are pictures or even sounds to insert. For any activity or project, we encourage you to let the kids ultimately select their own topics, especially by using mapping. It's important to be clear on what you're trying to accomplish in order to guide the kids toward your larger learning goals.

For each lesson idea, we have suggested the software applications that we used in the YDC Pilot, our two-year pilot in Washington, D.C., but many other options exist as well. For this reason, as well as to keep the materials from becoming overly long, we provide only general instructions for introducing these applications and their tools. Make sure that you are familiar with the guidelines for teaching about and with technology and rely on your own knowledge and experience, product manuals and your colleagues for specifics.

For all projects, as well as for other appropriate activities, the last step should always be a group share so kids can share their work and learn from each other. Don't forget to use the work produced in these projects and activities to help you create a collaborative learning environment and reach out to parents and your community.

More information on effective techniques for working with youth in out-of-school settings is available in the teaching techniques area of YouthLearn.