This book presents performance-based projects as a systematic way to provide middle school and high school students both the structure and the freedom to become actively engaged in their own learning. The approach is based on the concept of authentic learning, which advocates a relevant, real world experience to personally engage students in learning. The goal is to provide opportunities for student exploration of topics that interest them by completing in-depth projects. The book includes materials lists, student responsibilities, and authentic, performance-based assessment tools. The book is divided into three sections. Section 1, "Using Challenging Projects for Creative Minds," gives educators an overview of the approach and details the goals and organization, the students' and teachers' responsibilities, and project assessment. This section also discusses using the projects for small-group work, and describes in detail how to write original projects using the teaching philosophy behind the projects in the book. Section 2, "Student Projects," offers students an overview of the approach and features all twenty project assignments and guidelines. Section 3, "Project Forms and Resources," contains reproducible materials to guide students in choosing and planning a project, reporting their progress and problems, recording their resources and work time, and assessing the project. (SD)