A Visual Arts Teacher,
Photographer and Practitioner Researcher
CAS Experiences vs. CAS Project
Students often confuse the two, but the CAS Project is a special type of CAS Experience with extra requirements.
CAS Experiences
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What they are:
Short or long-term activities that fall under Creativity, Activity, or Service.
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Examples:
Joining the school choir (Creativity), running in a charity marathon (Activity), or volunteering at an animal shelter (Service).
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Key Features:
Can be individual or group-based.
Vary in length (from a one-off activity to something ongoing).
Must show at least one CAS Learning Outcome.
Require planning + reflection but on a smaller scale.
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Purpose:
To give students a variety of experiences across all three strands of CAS.
CAS Project
What it is:
A sustained collaboration with others that runs for at least one month.
It is a special requirement of CAS and every student must complete at least one project.
Key Features:
Must involve teamwork/collaboration.
Must be planned, initiated, and executed by the student(s).
Must use the five CAS stages (Investigation, Preparation, Action, Reflection, Demonstration).
Can combine more than one strand (e.g., Creativity + Service).
Examples:
Organizing a community art exhibition to raise awareness about environmental issues.
Planning and running a sports camp for children.
Collaborating with peers to design and implement a school-wide recycling program.
Purpose:
To develop leadership, planning, collaboration, and sustained commitment.
Think of CAS Experiences as your building blocks — different ways to explore creativity, activity, and service. The CAS Project is the big picture — a focused, collaborative journey that shows your ability to plan, act, reflect, and make a lasting impact.