Research Project Packs
Investigate high-interest topics to answer a Driving Question. Grade-appropriate resources in each pack support student collaboration and foster creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills through guided inquiry. Refer to the Research Project Packs Overview for instructions.
Set a purpose for learning: Use the Driving Question to build essential literacy skills and content-area knowledge.Provide opportunities for collaboration: Incorporate planning and organizing tools to help students stay on task, work as a team, present findings, and reflect on work.
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How Project-Based Learning Packs Work
Entry Event
An entry event provides a spark to interest students in the topic of their investigations, which are structured by a Driving Question that gives a real-world purpose for projects.
Preteach
Each pack contains vocabulary specific to the content areas and academic vocabulary of the project to help students unlock key ideas related to the Driving Question.
Anchor Text
All students experience the same leveled book to give them a foundation upon which to build their understanding of the Driving Question.
Question & Plan
Students create investigation questions, form teams, and set a project timeline to frame their team's research of the Driving Question.
Find & Evaluate
Groups start their research and divide up project tasks. A core set of resources is listed in the Reading and Activities Chart of each lesson, and Research Bookmarks provide tools for evaluating sources.
Organize
Teams organize what they have learned to create their presentations. They choose which information to share that answers the Driving Question.
Choose a
Teams decide on a presentation format from options suggested in the lesson plan. Presentation formats can be chosen during any Investigate step.
Practice &
Teams practice speaking and listening skills and review the presentations of their peers to ensure everyone is confident when presenting in front of a public audience.
Present to Audience
Teams present to a public audience to remind students that their projects have real-world value. Rubrics and other assessment opportunities throughout the project cycle help teachers determine what students learn.
Reflect
Students reflect in writing about the project and/or process; potentially identifying further topics of inquiry to start the cycle again.
Select One or More Project Pack(s)
Resources for All Grade 2 Packs
Disappearing Coral Reefs Project Pack
Driving Question
How can communities use technology to solve the problem of disappearing coral reefs?
Anchor Text
Lexile 890L Nonfiction
Lesson Plan
Language Arts, Social Studies, Science
Driving Question Project Outline
Reading & Activity Resources
Coral Reef Food Web
primary
Discover the Great Barrier Reef!
primary
Grow a Coral Garden
primary
Growing Coral in a Nursery
primary
Interview with Mia Adreani
primary
Life in a Coral Reef
secondary
Underwater Medicine Cabinet
secondary
Follow the Pollution
secondary
Coral Reefs Might Be Saved By New Ideas
secondary
Let's Change Together Project Pack
Driving Question
How can students persuade others to make changes to the rules or laws in their school or community?
Anchor Text
Lexile 530L Fiction
Lesson Plan
Language Arts, Social Studies, Math
Driving Question Project Outline
Reading & Activity Resources
Make Them Laugh, Make Them Think
primary
School Change Survey
primary
Vote for the Slide
primary
Kids Make a Difference
secondary
Letters to the Editor
secondary
Make More Chocolate Project Pack
Driving Question
As producers of chocolate, how can we make more?
Anchor Text
Lexile 590L Nonfiction
Lesson Plan
Language Arts, Social Studies, Science
Driving Question Project Outline
Reading & Activity Resources
Chocolate-Making Throughout History
primary
Diseases That Affect Cacao Trees
primary
Earl of Sandwich Frozen Chocolate
primary
Selling Chocolate
primary
Ancient Treat Older Than Scientists Thought
secondary
Cacao Tree Habitat
secondary
Farming Cacao Done Mostly By Hand
secondary
How to Make Chocolate
secondary
Valentine's Day Chocolates to Cost More
secondary
Show Respect! Project Pack
Driving Question
How does our school demonstrate an understanding of equality and respect for all people?
Anchor Text
Lexile 720L Nonfiction
Lesson Plan
Language Arts, Social Studies, Math
Driving Question Project Outline
Reading & Activity Resources
Are We Living Dr. King's Dream?
primary
Joining Hands as Sisters and Brothers
primary
Show Some Respect
primary
What Makes You Special?
primary
A Better Way to Solve Problems
secondary
Brown v. Board of Education
secondary
The Girl at the Next Desk
secondary
Triple Threat to Trash Project Pack
Driving Question
How can we use the phrase "reduce, reuse, recycle" to create a plan for how our school deals with waste?
Anchor Text
Lexile 610L Fiction
Lesson Plan
Language Arts, Social Studies, Science
Driving Question Project Outline
Reading & Activity Resources
Recycling and Reusing
primary
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
primary
Save Energy, the Earth, and Money
primary
From Plastic Bottles to Clothes
secondary
School Energy Costs
secondary
The Waste Pyramid
secondary
What Can (and Can't) Go in the Recycling Bin
secondary
Select One or More Project Pack(s)
Resources for All Grade 3 Packs
Food's Global Web Project Pack
Driving Question
How do the foods we eat and where they are grown connect us with people around the world?
Anchor Text
Lexile 1100L Nonfiction
Lesson Plan
Language Arts, Social Studies, Science
Driving Question Project Outline
Reading & Activity Resources
All Kinds of Restaurants!
primary
Bananas: From Jungle to Table
primary
Favorite Fruits and Vegetables
primary
Imports and Exports
primary
The Origin of the World's Food Crops
primary
The Cost of Food Distribution
secondary
Famous Food Cities Around the World
secondary
How Prepared Are We? Project Pack
Driving Question
How can our school be better prepared for severe weather, such as a thunderstorm, tornado, or hurricane?
Anchor Text
Lexile 820L Nonfiction
Lesson Plan
Language Arts, Science, Math
Driving Question Project Outline
Reading & Activity Resources
Common Paths of Hurricanes
primary
Interview with Henry Snow
primary
Interview with Weather Solutions, Inc.
primary
Ping-Pong-Ball Anemometer
primary
Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
primary
Firefighters Rescue Four- Legged Friend
secondary
How Lincoln Elementary School Staff Prepares for Severe Weather
secondary
Tornado-Safe Rooms in Schools
secondary
My School, My Castle Project Pack
Driving Question
How are modern school communities similar to and different from European castle communities of long ago?
Anchor Text
Lexile 810L Nonfiction
Lesson Plan
Language Arts, Social Studies, Science
Driving Question Project Outline
Reading & Activity Resources
Castles in Communities
primary
Cheney Elementary School
primary
Schools in Communities
primary
The Ten Best Cities for Families
primary
Five Castle Jobs
secondary
Five Jobs for the Future
secondary
Technology vs. Mother Nature Project Pack
Driving Question
Can the technology to predict earthquakes, volcanoes, and tsunamis help keep us safe in places where these events are likely to happen? Why or why not?
Anchor Text
Lexile 730L Nonfiction
Lesson Plan
Language Arts, Science, Social Studies
Driving Question Project Outline
Reading & Activity Resources
Are You Prepared?
primary
Benefits of Volcano Monitoring: Mount Pinatubo
primary
Earthquake, Tsunami, and Volcanic Eruption Safety
primary
How a Tsunami Happens
primary
The Pacific Ring of Fire & World Population
primary
Don't Unplug During Disasters
secondary
Early Warnings for Natural Disasters
secondary
FAQs: Occurrences of Earthquakes, Volcanoes, and Tsunamis
secondary
Visitor or Invader? Project Pack
Driving Question
Should we persuade people to go to places such as Alaska, which is called the "last frontier," to live or vacation? Why or why not?
Anchor Text
Lexile 880L Nonfiction
Lesson Plan
Language Arts, Social Studies, Science
Driving Question Project Outline
Reading & Activity Resources
Biodiversity of Alaska
primary
Effects of Tourism in Alaska
primary
Experience the Wonders of Denali National Park
primary
How Many People Live in Alaska?
primary
Interview with Katie Sanders, Alaska Resident
primary
Two of Earth's Last Frontiers
primary
Do Visitors Affect Southeast Alaska?
secondary
Effects of Tourism in the Alps
secondary
Population Concerns in Papua New Guinea
secondary
Successful Ecotourism
secondary
Select One or More Project Pack(s)
Resources for All Grade 4 Packs
Crack the Codes Project Pack
Driving Question
How do codes affect our lives and the ways we communicate?
Anchor Text
Lexile 750L Fiction
Lesson Plan
Language Arts, Social Studies, Art
Driving Question Project Outline
Reading & Activity Resources
The Curious History of @
primary
Images and Symbols in Art
primary
Images and Symbols in Crafts
primary
Helpful Reminders in Mathematics
secondary
One Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words
secondary
Recipe for Granola
secondary
Environmentally Friendly Cars Project Pack
Driving Question
How can we persuade car buyers that some cars are more environmentally friendly than others?
Anchor Text
Lexile 1150L Nonfiction
Lesson Plan
Language Arts, Science, Math
Driving Question Project Outline
Reading & Activity Resources
Energy Costs per Vehicle
primary
The Tesla Model S Sedan
primary
Testing the Power Charge in Batteries
primary
Electric vs. Gasoline Vehicles
secondary
How Do Fuel Costs Compare?
secondary
Looks Greek to Me Project Pack
Driving Question
How is the culture of ancient Greece reflected in modern-day art and architecture?
Anchor Text
Lexile 880L Fiction
Lesson Plan
Language Arts, Art, Social Studies
Driving Question Project Outline
Reading & Activity Resources
Ancient Greek and Roman Architecture
primary
English Words with Greek Roots
primary
The Artistic and Stylish Greeks
secondary
Monticello and Greek Revival Architecture
secondary
Money Games Project Pack
Driving Question
What kind of game can we create that teaches students how to be responsible with their money?
Anchor Text
Lexile 850L Fiction
Lesson Plan
Language Arts, Social Studies, Math
Driving Question Project Outline
Reading & Activity Resources
Interview with a Bank Manager
primary
Money Games for Kids Catalog
primary
Classroom Economy Experiment
secondary
What Can You Do to Earn Money?
secondary
Will They Have Enough Money?
secondary
Select One or More Project Pack(s)
Resources for All Grade 5 Packs
America's Army Project Pack
Driving Question
Why did the United States establish an army, and how can we show how that army has changed over time?
Anchor Text
Lexile 1020L Nonfiction
Lesson Plan
Language Arts, Social Studies, Math
Driving Question Project Outline
Reading & Activity Resources
The Face of the Army - Yesterday and Today
primary
History of Battle Uniforms
primary
Interview with Sergeant First Class Penny McInnis, USA, Retired
primary
Lee's Difficult Decision
primary
The Army: By the Numbers
secondary
Changing Uniforms
secondary
Establishing an American Army
secondary
Food for the Troops
secondary
Military Transportation
secondary
Explore History with Technology Project Pack
Driving Question
Why is it important for historians to try to solve mysteries about the past, and how can current technology help?
Anchor Text
Lexile 1050L Nonfiction
Lesson Plan
Language Arts, Social Studies
Driving Question Project Outline
Reading & Activity Resources
Archaeology Tools Today
primary
Come Dig With Us!
primary
Egyptian Hieroglyphics
primary
Interview with Matthew Senn
primary
Secrets from a Pharoah's Tomb
secondary
Technology Changing the Work of Archaeologists
secondary
Tools Then and Now
secondary
What Does an Archaeologist Do?
secondary
Hero's Journey Project Pack
Driving Question
How would you develop characters, setting, and plot in a hero's journey story?
Anchor Text
Lexile 1100L Fiction
Lesson Plan
Language Arts, Art, Social Studies
Driving Question Project Outline
Reading & Activity Resources
Characters and Settings in Heroes' Journeys
primary
Crow Brings Light
primary
Heroes and Villains
primary
Analyzing Heroes
secondary
The Hero's Journey
secondary
Plot Sequences in Heroes' Journeys
secondary
Stages in a Hero's Journey Story
secondary
How Revolution Led to Republic Project Pack
Driving Question
How can understanding the causes and effects of the American Revolution help us understand the way government is set up today?
Anchor Text
Lexile 950L Nonfiction
Lesson Plan
Language Arts, Social Studies, Art
Driving Question Project Outline
Reading & Activity Resources
The Declaration of Independence
primary
King George III's Speech to Parliament
primary
Political Cartoons Past and Present
primary
The Stamp Act--from Beginning to End
primary
Articles of Confederation vs. Constitution
secondary
British Actions and Colonists' Reactions
secondary
Checks and Balances in the U.S. Government
secondary
Compare Governments Then and Now
secondary
Federalist vs. Anti-Federalist
secondary
How the President of the United States Is Elected
secondary
Rethink Farming Project Pack
Driving Question
How are farmers today using the lessons of the Dirty Thirties?
Anchor Text
Lexile 940L Nonfiction
Lesson Plan
Language Arts, Social Studies, Science
Driving Question Project Outline
Reading & Activity Resources
Dust Storm Disaster
primary
Farm Equipment Advertisements
primary
Interview with Melt White: A Dust Bowl Survivor's Tale
primary
Preventing Soil Erosion
primary
Dust Bowl Causes
secondary
Modern Dust Storm Risks
secondary
Timeline of American Agriculture
secondary
Entry Event
Preteach Vocabulary
Anchor Text
Question & Plan
Find & Evaluate
Organize Information
Choose a Project
Practice & Review
Present to Audience
Reflect
