Project-Based Learning from TeacherVision
New Project-Based Learning Units
Curious about project-based learning, but unsure about how to fit it into your curriculum, or thought it would be too difficult to teach?
These new PBL units are complete and ready to teach, with no prep, no hassle, and no need to spend time building background knowledge - yours or your students’. Each unit includes everything you need to do meaningful, inquiry-based PBL that will engage students and give them real-world learning opportunities.We’ve made it very easy to do PBL by developing units for common topic areas and removing all of the hard prep work and need to “fill in the blanks” with your own resources.
We will be adding all-new PBL units for additional topics and grade bands regularly - so check back here often or subscribe to our newsletters to be notified when new units are released!
What is Project-Based Learning?
Project-based learning (PBL) is a student-centered instructional method that focuses on blending deep conceptual knowledge of a topic with an inquiry-based approach to active, hands-on, real-world learning. The central element in project-based learning is a meaningful, pedagogically-rich, in-depth project that challenges students to build both academic subject knowledge and foundational skills like critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving. Project-based learning lesson plans and ideas generally provide teachers with an extended framework of inquiry-based learning activities that can be modified or adapted for a variety of learning styles, time periods, and topics, normally including a strong curriculum focus enhanced by an engaging multi-stage hands-on project.
If you are considering implementing project-based learning in your classroom this year, TeacherVision has a new suite of deep, inquiry-based PBL lesson plans for the core subjects (science, math, ELA, and social studies) that are ready to use with no prep and contain all the elements you need to bring a complete, engaging, skill-building project to your curriculum.
Looking for additional topics and units that fit your grade band or curriculum needs? We'll be updating this page regularly with ready-to-teach PBL units.
In the meantime, explore 22 of our original SEL-focused projects that enable you to incorporate SEL into your existing curriculum with our exclusive FutureFit framework.
Projects for All Subjects
Science
- Super Senses!: Human Biology/the 5 Senses (Grades 4-6)
- Outside the Box - Can We Cure Cancer?: Design Thinking (Grades 6-8)
- Nepal Gorkha Earthquake: Earth Science/Plate Tectonics and Volcanism (Grades 6-8)
- DNA and Your Dinner - GMOs: Biology (Grades 6-8)
- The Rise of Videogame Economies (Grades 8-10)
Business and Economics
Social Studies
- Seed Keepers: Native American History/Agriculture (Grades 3-6)
- California Gold Rush: American History/Communities (Grades 4-6)
- Life in a Medieval Castle: World History/Communities (Grades 5-7)
English Language Arts
- Your Story, My Story - Resolving Conflict: Writing (Grades 2-4)
- Words with Friends: Vocabulary/Writing (Grades 3-5)
Infobiographical: Biography/Descriptive Writing (Grades 6-8)
Mathematics
- Home Sweet (Tiny) Home: Area and Perimeter (Grades 5-7)
Browse Project-Based Learning from TeacherVision Resources
Exploring Simple Machines Project-Based Learning Unit
OVERVIEW: This project-based learning lesson is designed to support and reinforce the concepts taught as part of a lesson on Simple Machines and Forces and Motion. It is built around 5 inquiry-based milestones that incorporate cross-curricular hands-on projects, formative and summative assessments, independent and group activities, and extensions.
Exploring Data Analysis and Graphing Project-Based Learning Unit
OVERVIEW: This project-based learning lesson is designed to support and reinforce the concepts taught as part of a lesson on Data Analysis and Graphing or Entrepreneurship. It is built around 5 inquiry-based milestones that incorporate cross-curricular hands-on projects, formative and summative assessments, independent and group activities, and extensions.
Exploring Measurement Project-Based Learning Unit
OVERVIEW: This project-based learning lesson is designed to support and reinforce the concepts taught as part of a lesson on Measurement and Conversion or Entrepreneurship. It is built around 5 inquiry-based milestones that incorporate cross-curricular hands-on projects, formative and summative assessments, independent and group activities, and extensions.
Exploring Electricity and Energy Project-Based Learning Unit
OVERVIEW: This project-based learning lesson is designed to support and reinforce the concepts taught as part of a lesson on Electricity and Magnetism. It is built around 5 inquiry-based milestones that incorporate cross-curricular hands-on projects, formative and summative assessments, independent and group activities, and extensions.
Exploring States of Matter Project-Based Learning Unit
OVERVIEW: This project-based learning lesson is designed to support and reinforce the concepts taught as part of a lesson on Matter and Energy. It is built around 5 inquiry-based milestones that incorporate cross-curricular hands-on projects, formative and summative assessments, independent and group activities, and extensions.
Exploring Light and Luminescence Project-Based Learning Unit
OVERVIEW: This project-based learning lesson is designed to support and reinforce the concepts taught as part of a lesson on Light and Luminescence. It is built around 5 inquiry-based milestones that incorporate cross-curricular hands-on projects, formative and summative assessments, independent and group activities, and extensions.
Exploring Symbiotic Relationships Project-Based Learning Unit
OVERVIEW: This project-based learning lesson is designed to support and reinforce the concepts taught as part of a lesson on Symbiotic Relationships. It is built around 5 inquiry-based milestones that incorporate cross-curricular hands-on projects, formative and summative assessments, independent and group activities, and extensions.
Exploring Animal Adaptations Project-Based Learning Unit
OVERVIEW: This project-based learning lesson is designed to support and reinforce the concepts taught as part of a lesson on Animal Adaptations. It is built around 5 inquiry-based milestones that incorporate cross-curricular hands-on projects, formative and summative assessments, independent and group activities, and extensions.
Exploring Animal Habitats Project-Based Learning Unit
OVERVIEW: This project-based learning lesson is designed to support and reinforce the concepts taught as part of a lesson on Animal Habitats and Biomes. It is built around 5 inquiry-based milestones that incorporate cross-curricular hands-on projects, formative and summative assessments, independent and group activities, and extensions.
Exploring Force and Motion Project-Based Learning Unit
OVERVIEW: This project-based learning lesson is designed to support and reinforce the concepts taught as part of a lesson on Force and Motion. It is built around 5 inquiry-based milestones that incorporate cross-curricular hands-on projects, formative and summative assessments, independent and group activities, and extensions.
Exploring Colonial America Project-Based Learning Unit
OVERVIEW: This project-based learning lesson is designed to support and reinforce the concepts taught as part of a lesson on Colonial America. It is built around 5 inquiry-based milestones that incorporate cross-curricular hands-on projects, formative and summative assessments, independent and group activities, and extensions.
Astronaut Space Exploration Project-Based Learning Unit
OVERVIEW: This project-based learning lesson is designed to support and reinforce the concepts taught as part of a lesson on Space Exploration and Human Space Flight. It is built around 5 inquiry-based milestones that incorporate cross-curricular hands-on projects, formative and summative assessments, independent and group activities, and extensions.
Exploring the Solar System Project-Based Learning Unit
OVERVIEW: This project-based learning lesson is designed to support and reinforce the concepts taught as part of a lesson on Earth and the Solar System. It is built around 5 inquiry-based milestones that incorporate cross-curricular hands-on projects, formative and summative assessments, independent and group activities, and extensions.
OVERVIEW: This FutureFit lesson is designed to supplement a standard 12-15 unit lesson for 4th-6th grade Social Studies by offering a unique project that ties together the core academic concepts with a set of FutureFit social-emotional and 21st Century Skills.
Super Senses! Exploring the 5 Senses
OVERVIEW: This FutureFit lesson is designed to supplement a standard 12-15 unit lesson on human anatomy (exploring the 5 senses) for grades 4-6 Science by offering a unique project that ties together the core academic concepts with a set of FutureFit social-emotional and 21st Century Skills.
OVERVIEW: This FutureFit lesson is designed to supplement a standard 12-15 unit lesson on geometry or measurement for grades 5-7 Math by offering a unique project that ties together the core academic concepts with a set of FutureFit social-emotional and 21st Century Skills.
Sense Organs: Skin, Nose, Tongue Mini-Lesson
Use this mini-lesson to introduce students to sense organs. Give students a general overview of touch, taste, and smell. Students will learn that the nose, tongue, and skin collect information for the brain to interpret.
Sense Organs: Eyes and Ears Mini-Lesson
Use this mini-lesson to introduce students to sense organs. Give students a general overview of the anatomy and physiology of the human eye and ear. Excerpted from
Use this mini-lesson to introduce students to frogs. Excerpted from Eyewitness: Amphibian Barry Clarke
Introducing Dinosaurs Mini-Lesson
Use this mini-lesson to introduce students to the characteristics of dinosaurs. Excerpted from Eyewitness: Dinosaur David Lambert
