Project-Based Learning from TeacherVision
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
- Hurry to My Habitat: Biomes and Animal Habitats (Grades 1-2)
- The States of Matter: Matter and Energy (Grades 1-2)
- Newton's Games: Forces and Motion (Grades 2-4)
- I Need to Charge My Phone!: Electricity and Magnetism (Grades 3-5)
- Way to Glow, Slime: Animal Biology (Grades 3-5)
- Help the Hero: Simple Machines (Grades 3-5)
- Polar Powers: Animal Adaptations (Grades 4-6)
- Super Senses!: Human Biology/the 5 Senses (Grades 4-6)
- Zombie Ants!: Animal Biology/Symbiotic Relationships (Grades 6-8)
- 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
- Spin Factory: Measurement (Grades 3-5)
- Growth Hack Your Favorite Team: Graphing and Data Display (Grades 5-7)
- Home Sweet (Tiny) Home: Area and Perimeter (Grades 5-7)
Browse Project-Based Learning from TeacherVision Resources
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FUTUREFIT PROJECTS
Animal Adaptations Flying Squirrel Activity
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ACTIVITIES
Dig Deeper Project-Based Learning: Women's History Month Unit
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ACTIVITIES
Newton's Games: Balloon Car Activity
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WORKSHEETS
Mealtime Math
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ACTIVITIES
Dig Deeper Project-Based Learning: Black History Month Unit
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FUTUREFIT PROJECTS
Newton's Games: Game Rules and Description
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FUTUREFIT PROJECTS
Arctic and Antarctic Animals Student Viewing Guide and Answer Key
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FUTUREFIT PROJECTS
Help the Hero Simple Machines STEM Challenge Worksheet
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.
Polar Powers: Animal Adaptations
OVERVIEW: This FutureFit lesson is designed to supplement a standard 12-15 unit lesson 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. STUDENT/GROUP OUTPUT: Students will:
Newton's Games: Laws of Motion
OVERVIEW: This FutureFit lesson is designed to supplement a standard 12-15 unit lesson for 2nd through 4th grade science/STEM 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 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
Use this mini-lesson to introduce students to the concepts of "hot spots" and to discuss the different kinds of lava that flow from active volcanos. Excerpted from
Introducing Inventions Mini-Lesson
Use this mini-lesson to introduce students to how discoveries differ from inventions. Teach students the variety of different inventions. Excerpted from
Use this mini-lesson to introduce students to the different kinds of nests birds build, and the variety of material they use in building them. Excerpted from
Use this mini-lesson to introduce students to the various ways that seeds can spread to make more plants. Excerpted from Eyewitness: Plant David Burnie
Nature's Weather Clues Mini-Lesson
Use this mini-lesson to introduce students to the clues nature provides for changing weather. Excerpted from Eyewitness: Weather Brian Cosgrove
Modern Olympic Beginnings Mini-Lesson
Use this mini-lesson to introduce students to the beginnings of the modern Olympic Games. Excerpted from Eyewitness: Olympics Chris Oxlade
More About Minerals Mini-Lesson
Use this mini-lesson to introduce students to the different kinds of minerals. Explain how some minerals are used and how to identify them. Excerpted from
Use this mini-lesson to introduce students to rocks. Explain what rocks are made of, the three different ways in which they form, and some of the ways in which surface rocks can be broken down.
