Emma Sexton

ENGL 3690
Article of the Week

Project Based Learning (PBL) in

Elementary Settings
What is Project Based Learning (PBL)?
“A teaching method in which students learn by actively engaging in real world and personally meaningful
projects” (PBL Works)
*content through project format

- Extend over a period of time

- From 1 week → 1 Semester

- End w/ final product, presentation, other final format(s)

- Involved real world problems and/or critical thinking questions

- Lots of room for creativity and imagination

- Vehicle for teaching vs a unit assessment or final goal

 Photos From PBL Works
https://www.pblworks.org/what-is-pbl

“Golden Standard” of Project Based Learning

Student Steps
1. Define
a. Problem, goal, hypothesis
2. Solution Criteria
a. Understand rubric and what is needed within the project
3. Research
a. Gain knowledge behind the topic at hand
4. Pick a Solution
a. What is your end goal
b. What do you want to do with found knowledge
5. Create, Run, & Inspect
a. Produce media/content demonstrating understanding
b. Compile what you have found
6. Reflect
a. share w/ audience setting
b. Teach your learnings
Elementary Level PBL Topic Examples
Science
- Ways to reduce plastics and debris in the
ocean
- How humans safely explore mars
- How we can keep communities safe in natural
disasters
Math
- What a good designed grading system looks
like
- Equal ways to elect people (into government)
- Creating a good path to use for indoor recess
Reading/Writing
- Making art with shapes around you
- How to make stories come alive
- What makes a mystery a mystery
Social Studies
- What makes someone a hero (in community
and/or history)
- How to help new friends get to know the
community
- Making a change in the community
Benefits in the Elementary Classroom
Collaboration Opportunities Student Engagement

- Teacher benefits - Student benefits

- Student making choices and decisions through
- Support of colleagues whole process
- Collaboration with other classrooms - Voices heard
- Ideas thought through w/ others - Opportunity for motivation
- Student interests are used, feel connected to
work

- Student benefits
- Communication and problem solving skills
- Consider peers viewpoints, other than theirs
- Real life skills
- Teacher benefits
- Engage and motivate students
- Can use as assessment to check in
- More connection from students usually
disengaged
Benefits in the Elementary Classroom
Authentic Learning Opportunities

- Student benefits
- Draw real world connections
- Find purpose in the classroom
- Feel connected and engaged w/ their work
- Authentic audience

- Teacher benefits
- Can see excitement in students from their work
- Make project feel “real” to students
- Understand their students more
 Stats from PBL Works

What Studies are Showing

- Elementary students outperformed peers by 8 percentage points in science learning

- pattern held all through socioeconomic & reading ability level

-struggling and outperforming readers outperformed traditional classrooms not using PBL
techniques

*from study by MSU and UM researches

Observing 3rd grades in 46 random schools

Impact on Students

- Deeper learning
- Exposure to adults and careers
- Sense of purpose and accomplishment
- Student-teacher relationships
- Creativity
- Technology use
- Engaged minds & hearts
 Publication: Edutopia
Citations
Stilwell, Sarah. “PBL in the Early Elementary Grades.” Edutopia, George Lucas Educational Foundation, 3 Dec.
2021,

https://www.edutopia.org/article/pbl-early-elementary-grades.

Terada, Youki. “New Research Makes a Powerful Case for PBL.” Edutopia, George Lucas Educational Foundation,
21

Feb. 2021, https://www.edutopia.org/article/new-research-makes-powerful-case-pbl.

Youki Terada is a UC Berkeley student with a
masters in education and a undergrad of sociology.
Has informal and formal learning in science ideas
for elementary levels. STEM experience as well.
Other Cited Referenced
Buck Institute for Education. “What Is PBL?” PBLWorks,
https://www.pblworks.org/what-is-pbl.

Sarah Stilwell is a PhD candidate at the University

of Michigan, in both education and psychology.
Also a former elementary school teacher.