PBL Lesson Plans

Approx. Week #

Lesson 1

Lesson 2

Introduction of the
PBL
Play the
video (You
Tube: 2010
Albuquerque
Balloon
Fiesta)
Explore
Activity: A
change of
State p. 109
in their
Physical
Science Text
Book
Debrief and
discuss the
properties of
matter in
groups
Brainstorm
the essential
question in
groups
Write pre
assessment
paper
Read
Chapter 3,

Continuation with
volume investigation
Read p. 80-81
in the Physical
Science Text
Book
Finding
volume by
displacement
lab p. 81 of
the Physical
Science Text
Book in groups
Discuss their
findings in
groups
Discuss whole
class
Check for
understanding
, using data
sheet B, p. 98
from T.E.
Introduce the
formula for
Volume: V = l
xwxh
(remember to
use the correct
units to

Lesson 3

5-6 weeks

Expected Dates

Lesson 4

Mid year

Lesson 5

Discuss Mass
Density
Density and
Read p. 82-83 from
Investigation
Temperature of Water
their Physical
Students will and Gas (air)
Science Text Book
Ask, What will
do, Layered
Discuss the
Liquid Lab
happen if we
differences
in groups
put hot and
between mass
cold water
Discuss
and weight in
together?
findings in
groups
Students make
groups
Discuss whole
predictions
Discuss
class
Do the lab from
whole class
Write a
middleschoolche
Discuss
discussion in
mistry.com
density and
their science
Have students
how to
journals
calculate it
take notes on
contrasting
their observations
Practice
mass and
Discuss the
problems
weight
using D=M/V
outcomes in their
(remember to
(remember
lab groups
use the correct
to use the
Discuss as a
units to
correct units
whole class
express
to express
Discuss and
mass)density)
compare the
formative
Do the Quick
density of hat and
assessment
Lab from
cold water to hot
their Physical
and cold gas.
EL Strategies:
Science Text
Write a discussion
Give extra
Book, p. 87
about the density
time
Check for
in hot and cold
Work with a
understandin
water

Section 1 of
their
Physical
Science book
Readdress
the essential
question in
groups then
whole class
discussion
Do Finding
Accurate
Volumes
Lab p. 79 of
their
Physical
Science Text
Book
Discussion of
their findings
(importance
of reading a
graduated
cylinder
correctly and
using the
correct units
to express
volume)
Check for
understandin
g, do data
sheet B, p.
95 from T.E.

represent
volume)
Do examples
and allow
students to
work on
problems
involving
volume
(teacher
created or
worksheet)
Show students
how to
transform
formula and
isolate
different
variables
Do examples
and allow
students to
work on
problems
involving
isolation of a
particular
variable
(teacher
created or
worksheet)
Ticket out the
door (question
about volume

partner
Have student
write what
they know
about mass
and weight
in their
science
journals (not
necessarily
in paragraph
form)
Partner with
another
student

Differentiation:
Have student
write what
they know
about mass
and weight
in their
science
journals (not
necessarily
in paragraph
form) for
RSP students
Have student
research the
mass v.
weight topic
and write a

g using data
How can you
sheet B,
explain the
p.104 from
outcomes?
T.E.
How will this
Have
apply to you hot
students
air balloon
transform
EL Strategies:
the formula
Give extra time
and isolate
Work with a
different
partner
variables
Have student
Show and
write what they
explain to
know about
students that
mass and
density can
weight in their
be
science journals
represented
(not necessarily
by graphing
in paragraph
the
form)
relationship
Partner with
between
another
mass and
student
volume
Differentiation
y = mx;
Have student
where m
write what they
equals the
know about
density
mass and
Graph a set
weight in their
of data for
science journals
three
(not necessarily
different
in paragraph
substances
form) for RSP
(teacher
students
created) and
Have students

(copies/hand
out)
Give the
math pre
assessment

EL Strategies:
Give extra
time, if
needed
Work with
a partner
or shadow
the steps
with
another
student
Modify the
questions
on the data
sheet
(depending
on EL level)
Use Data
sheet A to
check for
understand
ing.
Differentiation:
Use data
sheet A for
RSP
students
Use data

and a problem
calculating
volume)formative
assessment

research
paper on it
for gifted or
high
achieving
student
Have student
do the
challenge
question in
their
Physical
Science Text
Book, p. 83.

EL Strategies:

Give extra
time, if
needed
Work with a
partner or
shadow the
steps with
another
Standards:
student
P21 Skills
Modify the
Communicati
questions on
on and
the data
collaboration
sheet
English
(depending
W.8.
on EL level)
Use Data
sheet A to
check for
understandin
g
Modify math
problems
(less
problems)
Differentiation:
Use data

compare
densities
graphically
The steeper
the density,
more dense
is the
substance
Write a
discussion in
paragraph
form in their
science
journal about
density;
what it is
and meansformative
assessment

EL Strategies:
Give extra
time, if
needed
Work with
a partner
or shadow
the steps
with
another
student
Modify the
questions

explore how
dense cold
water causes
mixing and
demonstrate
this in front of
the class (from
the website).
Standards:
P21 Skills
Communication
and
collaboration
English
W.8.

sheet C for
gifted or
higher
achieving
students
Standards:
P21 Skills
Communica
te and
Collaborate
Life and
Career
English
Reading
RI.8.4
W.8.
Algebra
A1.N-Q.1

sheet A for
RSP students
Modify
problems
(less
problems or
easy
numbers to
work with)
for RSP
students
Use data
sheet C for
gifted or
higher
achieving
students
Modify
problems
(give more
complex
problems to
work with)
for gifted or
high
achieving

Standards:
P21 Skills
Communicati
on and
Collaboratio
n

on the data
sheet
(depending
on EL level)
Use Data
sheet A to
check for
understand
ing
Modify
math
problems
(less
problems)
Have
student
write what
they know
about
density in
their
science
journals
(not
necessarily
in
paragraph
form) for
RSP
students

Differentiation:
Use data
sheet A for

Critical
Thinking
Life and
Career
Initiative and
Direction
English
W.8.
Algebra
A1.N-Q.2
A1.N-Q.3
A1A-CED.3

RSP
students
Modify
problems
(less
problems
or easy
numbers to
work with)
for RSP
students
Use data
sheet C for
gifted or
higher
achieving
students
Modify
problems
(give more
complex
problems
to work
with) for
gifted or
high
achieving

Standards:
P21
Communica
te and
Collaborati
on

Math
8.EE.5
8.EE.7
Science
MS-PS1-2
Algebra
A1.A-CED4
English
W.8

Daily PBL Plans

Lesson 6
Hot Air Balloon Race
Discuss as a whole
class the project,
expectations, and
rubric of this
assignment
Students will work
in groups to

Week #_____________
___________________________
Lesson 7

Group work
Construction/des
ign of their hot
air balloons
Discussion of
their projects
Discussion and
clarification of

Lesson 8
Up, Up, and
Away!!!

Lesson 9
Power point
Presentations

Dates
Lesson 10
Summative
Assessment
(culmination
)
Balloon
s
Design
Power

research hot air

balloons
1. The
construction
of hot air
balloons
2. What it takes
to make a hot
air balloon
and what it
takes to make
a hot air
balloon fly
3. The variables
such flight
time (length
of time in the
air) and
height (how
high their
balloon will
fly).
4. Materials
needed
5. Predictions
about their
hot air
balloons
6. Discussion of
the
temperature
inside and
outside of the
balloon
7. Each student

questions within
each group
Work on power
point
presentations

EL Strategies:
Work in a
group
Pair with
another
student if
needed, when
language
becomes a
barrier or too
much to
handle
Teacher should
regularly
check in and
clarify any
questions
when possible
Differentiation
RSP
Work in a
group
Pair with
another
student if the
information is
too much to

EL Strategies:
EL Strategies:

Differentiation
Standards:
P21
Creativity
and
Innovation
Productivity
and
Accountabili
ty
ICT
Information,
Media, and
Technology
Communicat
ion and

Differentiation
Standards:
P21
Creativity
and
Innovation
Productivity
and
Accountabili
ty
ICT
Information,
Media, and
Technology
Communicat
ion and
Collaboratio

point
Density
Test
(teache
r
created
)
Paper
(what
they
learned
about
density
,
include
the
driving
questio
n and
the
essenti
al
questio
n)

EL
Strategies:
Modify
the
test
questio
ns or
shorten
the
test

will keep a
journal of
their daily
activities and
their part in
this project
Turn in hot air
research handout
(websites looked at,
what information
was gathered,
material list, and a
hot air balloon
design)

EL Strategies:
Work in a group
Pair with another
student if
needed, when
language
becomes a barrier
or too much to
handle
Teacher should
regularly check in
with the student
and clarify any
questions when
possible
Differentiation:
RSP
Work in a group

comprehend
Teacher should
regularly
check in and
clarify any
questions
when possible
Gifted or high
achieving
Help students
when
necessary
Work in pairs
with other
students
Clarify
questions
Standards:
P21
Creativity and
Innovation
Productivity
and
Accountability
ICT
Information,
Media, and
Technology
Media Literacy

Collaboratio
n

Extra
time to
comple
te

Differentiati
on
RSP
Modify
the
test
questio
ns or
shorten
the
test
Extra
time to
comple
te
Gifted or
higher
achieving
Include
the
added
researc
h
during
the
project
Standards:
P21 Skills

Pair with another

student if the
information is too
much to
comprehend
Teacher should
regularly check in
and clarify any
questions when
possible
Gifted or high
achieving student
Help others when
needed
Research the
importance of
density to other
objects (space
shuttle or ocean
liners)
Investigate
buoyancy
Research
different Laws on
gases
Standards:
P21
Creativity and
Innovation
Productivity and
Accountability
ICT
Information,
Media, and

English
W.8
Algebra
A1.NQ.1, 2,
3
A1A.CED.3.
4
Math
8.EE.5,
7
Science
MSPS1-2

Technology

Daily PBL Plans

Lesson 11

Lesson 12

Week #_____________
___________________________
Lesson 13

Lesson 14

Dates
Lesson 15

EL Strategies:

EL Strategies:

EL Strategies:

EL Strategies:

EL Strategies:

Intervention
Lesson focus:

Intervention
Lesson focus:

Intervention
Lesson focus:

Intervention
Lesson focus:

Intervention
Lesson focus: