Year Long Project Ideas and Classroom Themes

So I have been thinking -for a long time- how it would be so great and real world for the students if we had a more problem based curriculum. Everytime I begin to think of projects to create that make math real life for the students, I get so excited and fired up. Then when it actually comes to putting them down on paper and outlining them, getting the templates, forms, instructions down on paper or computer; then that is where I run into issues and get held up. The amount of time that it takes to prepare a successful project for a classroom is extraneous. It is very well worth it though.

In my ideal classroom, I would have a year long project that incorporated every single TEK to make the class "understandable" to the kids. This, I guess you could say is my overall goal. I want to have a year long project or one per six weeks, but they all have to relate and work together and flow from one to another and all overall form the big picture of the 6th grade math question, "Why do I need to know this stuff anyways?" I am determined this year to make it happen with the help from my EDTC6341 FACTS Design model class. Does anyone have any advice or recommendations to help me through a LONG year of LONG planning but will make it so worth it?

So far, I want them to create a house for the geometry section and all TEKS from geometry and measurement will be included.

I want them to compare and contrast jobs and choose their job they will be working for in school... answering why they have to go to school now anyways.

I want to create a project where they have to make a budget and have a spending allowance of some sort.

There are many other options as well, but if anyone has any ideas as to how to best go about this that would be great.

I am also debating on decorating my class with college gear and posters or pictures of different types of jobs that use math and having a room theme of -WHY? Basically making them comfortable with asking why and answering why and getting used to me always asking them why. In addition the theme of "why" will allow them to realize I am proving year long "why" they are in school and learning math in my classroom.