Lesson Plans & Worksheets Reviewed by Teachers

Curated OER

Project Design

For Teachers 12th

Twelfth graders study Thoreau as "philosopher" and developing a personal philosophy of life (both metaphorically and literally). They come to an understanding of the interconnectedness of the natural world. Students come to a realization...

Get Free Access See Review

PBS

Pbs Kids: Design Squad Challenge: Launch It (Pdf) [Pdf]

For Students 3rd - 8th

Hands-on challenge to design an air-powered rocket to take you to the moon that can hit a distant target. Provides full list of materials with ideas on how to design, build, test, evaluate, and redesign it if necessary. Activity focuses...

Get Free Access See Review

PBS

Pbs Kids: Design Squad Challenge: Watercraft (Pdf) [Pdf]

For Students 3rd - 8th

Hands-on challenge to build an unsinkable boat out of straws and plastic wrap that can hold twenty five pennies. Provides full list of materials with ideas on how to build, test, evaluate, and redesign it if necessary. Also, includes...

Get Free Access See Review

PBS

Pbs Kids: Design Squad Challenge: Touchdown (Pdf) [Pdf]

For Students 3rd - 8th

Hands-on challenge to build a shock-absorbing system that will protect astronauts when they land on the moon. Provides full list of materials with ideas on how to design, build, test, evaluate, and redesign it if necessary. Activity...

Get Free Access See Review

PBS

Pbs Kids: Design Squad Challenge: Roving on the Moon (Pdf) [Pdf]

For Students 3rd - 8th

Hands-on challenge to build a rubber band-powered cardboard car (rover) that can scramble across the room. Provides full list of materials with ideas on how to build, test, evaluate, and redesign the car if necessary. Activity focuses on...

Get Free Access See Review

PBS

Pbs Kids: Design Squad Challenge: Heavy Lifting (Pdf) [Pdf]

For Students 3rd - 8th

Hands-on challenge to build a cardboard crane for a moon mission and see how heavy a load it can lift. Provides full list of materials with ideas on how to build, test, evaluate, and redesign it if necessary. Activity focuses on the...

Get Free Access See Review

PBS

Pbs Kids: Design Squad Challenge: On Target (Pdf) [Pdf]

For Students 3rd - 8th

Hands-on challenge to modify a paper cup so it can zip down a line and launch a marble on a target. Provides full list of materials with ideas on how to design, build, test, evaluate, and redesign it if necessary. Activity focuses on the...

Get Free Access See Review

PBS

Pbs Kids: Design Squad Challenge: Feel the Heat (Pdf) [Pdf]

For Students 3rd - 8th

Hands-on challenge to heat things up by building a solar hot water heater. Provides full list of materials with ideas on how to design, build, test, and redesign it if necessary. Activity focuses on the engineering design process and the...

Get Free Access See Review

PBS

Pbs Kids: Design Squad Challenge: Dance Pad Mania (Pdf) [Pdf]

For Students 3rd - 8th

Hands-on challenge to build a dance pad that lets you use your feet to either flash a light or to sound a buzzer. Provides full list of materials with ideas on how to design, build, test, and redesign the pad if necessary. Activity...

Get Free Access See Review

PBS

Pbs Kids: Design Squad Challenge: High Rise (Pdf) [Pdf]

For Students 3rd - 8th

Hands-on challenge to build a tall tower that can support a tennis ball. Provides full list of materials with ideas on how to build, test, and redesign it if necessary, or take it to the next level. Activity focuses on the engineering...

Get Free Access See Review

PBS

Pbs Kids: Design Squad Challenge: Motorized Car (Pdf) [Pdf]

For Students 3rd - 8th

Hands-on challenge to make a car that uses a battery-operated motor. Provides full list of materials with ideas on how to design, build, test, and redesign it if necessary. Also, includes ideas for taking your design to the next level....

Get Free Access See Review

PBS

Pbs Kids: Design Squad Challenge: Pop Fly [Pdf]

For Students 3rd - 8th

Hands-on challenge to design and build a way to launch a Ping-Pong ball high enough to catch it. Provides full list of materials with ideas on how to design, build, test, and redesign it if necessary. Activity focuses on the engineering...

Get Free Access See Review

PBS

Pbs Kids: Design Squad Challenge: Paper Table (Pdf) [Pdf]

For Students 3rd - 8th

Build a table out of newspaper that can hold a heavy weight. Hands-on challenge to invent a sturdy emergency shelter that's easy to build. Provides full list of materials with ideas on how to build, test, and redesign it if necessary....

Get Free Access See Review

PBS

Pbs Kids: Design Squad Challenge: Four Corners (Pdf) [Pdf]

For Students 3rd - 8th

Hands-on challenge to build a machine out of cardboard that runs smoothly and dependably. Provides full list of materials with illustrations and ideas on how to build, test, and redesign it if necessary. Activity focuses on the...

Get Free Access See Review

Buck Institute

Pbl Works: Pbl Essential Elements Checklist

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st

[Free Registration/Login Required] The PBL Essential Elements Checklist can be used for a quick evaluation of a project's design, to see if it includes all the essential elements of rigorous, effective PBL. Use this tool before, during,...

Get Free Access See Review

Buck Institute

Pbl Works: Project Design Rubric

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st

[Free Registration/Login Required] This rubric uses the 8 Essential Elements of PBL as criteria to evaluate projects. It describes three levels to assess the design of a project. Definitions and practical examples are used to clarify the...

Get Free Access See Review

PBS

Pbs Kids: Design Squad Challenge: Balloon Drive

For Students 3rd - 8th

Hands-on challenge "to make a helium balloon hover in one spot, then move it through an obstacle course using air currents". Provides full list of materials with ideas on how to design, build, and test the balloon's movement. Activity...

Get Free Access See Review

PBS

Pbs Kids: Design Squad Challenge: Blimp Jet [Pdf]

For Teachers 3rd - 8th

Hands-on challenge to add a jet-propulsion system such as a balloon to a Sky Glider blimp so it flies straight and far under its own power. Provides full list of materials with ideas on how to build, test, and redesign it if necessary....

Get Free Access See Review

PBS

Pbs Kids: Design Squad Challenge: Confetti Launcher (Pdf) [Pdf]

For Students 3rd - 8th

Hands-on challenge to invent a device that will launch a huge cloud of confetti. Provides full list of materials with ideas on how to design, build, test, and redesign it if necessary. Activity focuses on the engineering design process...

Get Free Access See Review

PBS

Pbs Kids: Design Squad Challenge: Harmless Holder (Pdf) [Pdf]

For Students 3rd - 8th

Hands-on challenge to build a new kind of holder for six cans that is also animal safe. Provides full list of materials with ideas on how to design, build, and test the holder for sturdiness. Activity focuses on the engineering design...

Get Free Access See Review

Buck Institute

Pbl Works: Driving Question Tubric 2.0

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st

[Free Registration/Login Required] The Driving Question Tubric 2.0 helps with practice in writing Driving Questions by framing initial words, person or entity, action or challenge, and audience/purpose. It is a fun, hands-on way to...

Get Free Access See Review

Other

Tech4 Learning: Recipes4 Success

For Teachers 9th - 10th

If you're interested in developing project-based learning for your class, Tech4Learning provides tools for facilitating those projects and instruction in how to create and manage them. Free resources available, as well as resources by...

Get Free Access See Review

National High Magnetic Field Laboratory

Magnet Academy: How Potato Cannons Work

For Students 9th - 10th

A slideshow carbo-loaded with information on how the pneumatic potato cannon works. [3:00]

Get Free Access See Review

PBS

Pbs Kids: Design Squad Challenge: Speedy Shelter (Pdf)

For Students K - 1st

This is a hands-on challenge to invent a sturdy emergency shelter that's easy to build. Provides a full list of materials with ideas on how to build, test, and redesign it if necessary. Activity focuses on the engineering design process...

Get Free Access See Review

NEW! AI Teacher Tools