4th Grade PBL Units

PBL Design Challenge

Using the Design Thinking Process, collaboratively engineer “The Most Magnificent Thing” for your teacher that will solve one of his/her needs.

PBL Summary

The basis for this mini-PBL unit is the book called "The Most Magnificent Thing" by Ashley Spires, where a young girl faces challenges in creating something extraordinary from her imagination. In this PBL, students will work together using the design thinking process to come up with their own version of "The Most Magnificent Thing" that can help their teacher solve a particular problem.

** Another version could be to build something for another student in the class. In this variation, students will partner up to create these innovations.

PBL Unit Guide

PBL Essential Question

How can students advocate for their local government to solve problems in Escondido?

PBL Summary

In this 4th grade project-based learning unit, students will work together to research and write about a pressing issue in their community of Escondido. Using their research, they will create a project that teaches others about the issue they have chosen. This project could take various forms such as an infographic, poster, art piece, PSA video, or a webpage. Through this project, students will develop their research and collaboration skills, while also gaining a deeper understanding of their local community and its challenges.

PBL Unit Guide

Essential Question

How can empathy help us to solve problems?

PBL Summary

Students will read the stories in Unit 2 Benchmark and design prototypes to collaboratively solve problems the characters face in the story. Students will use the design thinking process to create prototypes. Students will learn how to collaborate and learn what strengths they offer to a small group.

PBL Unit Guide

PBL Essential Question

How can we consider the point of view of different cultures to build and create a cohesive community that honors one another?

PBL Design Challenge

Collaboratively design a community from the 1700s California Mission era that embraces an inclusive community where all cultures are honored and respected. 

PBL Summary

In this fourth-grade PBL unit, students will create a group community from the 1700s in California that honors and respects all cultures. Students will learn about the early Native Americans in California, the Spanish influence in California in the 1700s, and how the mission system affected the Native American communities. They will use this knowledge to collaboratively design a group community that includes features and structures that support both cultures coming together and living in harmony. Through this project, students will develop an understanding of historical perspectives and cultural diversity while practicing collaboration and communication skills.

PBL Unit Guide

PBL Essential Question

How can we use the sun’s energy to design an effective oven that will heat to at least 100 degrees?

PBL Design Challenge

Use the sun’s energy to cook the perfect S'more. 

PBL Summary

In this 4th-grade PBL unit, students will focus on learning how to transfer the sun's energy to create an oven that can cook the perfect S'more. Working collaboratively, they will design an oven that can reach a minimum temperature of 100 degrees. This project will encourage students to think critically, problem-solve, and work together to achieve a common goal while learning about renewable energy and its practical applications.

PBL Unit Guide

PBL Essential Question

How can we accurately tell the story of a famous California historical figure who overcame obstacles to achieve success?

PBL Summary

This 4th-grade project-based learning unit focuses on researching a California historical figure who overcame obstacles before achieving success. The students will work together to create a picture book that tells the story of their chosen figure's life, with a focus on the obstacles they faced and how they overcame them or the growth mindset they adopted. The picture book will be shared with a younger class at the school, encouraging empathy, resilience, and a love of learning among the students.

PBL Unit Guide

Essential Question

How did pioneers collaboratively survive the journey on the California Trail in the 1800s?

PBL Summary

This is a gamified PBL experience that allows students to simulate what life was like for pioneers as they traveled west in covered wagons on the California Trail. The goal of the game is to be the team who ends up in Sutter’s Fort with the most money and resources to start their new life. Each day students will be given a new essential question and information they will need to research and learn about. In addition, each day students will work together on a daily task that will involve collaboration, consensus building, and understanding the impact of choices. Through the rolling of a die, students will face certain challenges and rewards. Students will document their individual journeys on the California Trail with daily journal writing. Writing high-quality journal entries and finishing the daily writing will earn teams more money! 

Unit Guide (Benchmark Advance Unit 7)

PBL Resource Folder (Expanded ELA option)

Essential Question

Earthquakes cause the earth to move and can have devastating effects. How can engineering help us build structures that are earthquake resistant?

PBL Summary

Students will learn about Earth’s features and be able to identify plate tectonic boundaries and the impacts resulting from movement along these boundaries. In addition, students will learn how waves contribute to the severity of earthquakes. Students will engage in an engineering challenge to design a structure that can withstand an earthquake. Structure designs will be measured with the use of a homemade shake table. Last, students will learn how to stay safe before, during, and after an earthquake and share their knowledge through an informational flyer created in Canva.

PBL Unit Guide

Essential Question

Which region is the best place to live in California?

PBL Summary

In this PBL students will learn geography skills and how California’s 4 regions make California a unique place to live. Students will create a relief map of California with salt dough and learn essential geography. Through research, collaborative groups will select one of the regions they consider to be “the best” place to live in California. Students will create a marketing campaign to entice others to come and live in the region and participate in a formal debate with other classmates to address the PBL essential question: Which region is the best place to live in California?

PBL Unit Guide

Essential Question

What scientific discoveries involving electricity have impacted the way we live our lives today?

PBL Summary

Students will learn how the scientific discovery of electricity has changed the world. Students will learn how energy can be transferred from place to place through electrical currents. Using their understanding of the power of electricity, students will collaboratively research one scientific discovery that is related to electricity. They will use their research to collaboratively create a podcast to share this information with a larger audience. Students will learn how to use Garageband to create a podcast!

Unit Guide (Benchmark Advance Unit 10)

Resources Folder (Expanded ELA Option)

Resource Folder (DLP option)

Essential Question

How might we use the design thinking process to show gratitude for members of our school community?

PBL Summary

The School Gratitude Project is a project-based learning unit aimed at students in grades 3-5. The project involves identifying important members of the school community and creating a product that expresses gratitude for their work or makes their job easier. Students will use the design thinking process to create a prototype, which includes researching with empathy, conducting interviews, creating a problem statement, ideating, prototyping, and testing for feedback. This project encourages students to develop empathy and appreciation for the people who make their school run smoothly, while also honing their design thinking and problem-solving skills.

PBL Unit Guide