Phase I. Getting started
In the first phase of a project the teacher encourages the children to share their own personal recollections related to the topic, and review their knowledge of it, 
using representational and expressive competencies such as dramatic play, 
drawing, writing,
and so forth. 
The teacher can learn of the special interests of individual children and their parents from the sharing of curent knowledge; 
this sharing also helps establish a baseline of understanding for the whole group involved in the project.
Parents may be able to contribute to the project in a variety of ways such as arranging places to visit, 
lending items for display, 
being interviewed by the children,
 and providing access to information.