This project involves 4th grade students in Arizona researching and creating a brochure or poster about the state. Students will include information on landmarks, historical figures, facts about Arizona, and places to visit. The goal is for students to improve their research, writing, and time management skills while learning about their state. Students will self-direct their learning and compile their findings concisely to fit the brochure/poster format. Their final products will be displayed at the school.

1. Let’s Tour Arizona!
4th Grade PBL Activity
Agustina Bosio

2. Project Overview
Students will create a tour brochure/poster of
Arizona, including the state flag and motto,
historical landmarks with descriptions, historical
figures, facts about the state, and interesting
“places to visit”.

3. Why this Project?
• Students in fourth grade in Arizona are required to learn about
Arizona’s history
• This project will allow students to improve their research and writing
skills while allowing them to learn about the state
• Students will have the choice of the finished product they want to
complete and are free to design their product any way they like as
long as the necessary information is present
• Students will be encouraged to self-direct their learning, teaching
themselves and each other about Arizona and managing their time to
finish the project (Skiff, 2009)
Skiff, D. (2009). What is self-directed learning?. Retrieved from
http://www.selfdirectedlearning.org/what-is-self-directed-learning

4. Why this Project? (Cont.)
• Students will have to summarize their findings to fit into a brochure or
poster. This will force students to only include relevant information and
make every word they write count
• This project involves both social studies and ELA, along with the use of
technology. Students will use laptops to find information about Arizona,
will determine whether sources are useful, and will cite sources
appropriately
• Andrew Price of the National Research Teacher Panel found that Cross-
disciplinary projects can increase students self-reflection, collaboration,
and awareness of project requirements including time management
(2010). I believe that this project is simple enough that it would not
appear daunting to fourth graders but complex enough that the students
are challenged
Price, A. (2010). What are the benefits for teaching and learning of cross-curricular work using thinking skills, techniques
and language?. Retrieved from http://www.ntrp.org.uk/sites/all/documents/A.%20Price%20FINAL.pdf

5. Project Objectives
 Students will digitally research and write about historical
landmarks and their significance
 Students will read and write about historical figures and their
significance
 Students will research facts about Arizona date that statehood
was pronounced, climate, and geographical differences between
regions
 Students will compile research into concise and easy to read
brochure/poster

6. Project Objectives (Continued)
Students will use primary and secondary sources,
and cite sources appropriately
Students will create brochures using Microsoft
Word
Students will peer edit each others’ brochures,
leading to revision
Students will write about “interesting places to
visit” and the reason for visiting

7. 4th Grade Social Studies Standards
• Strand 3
– PO 1.: Describe state and national symbols and monuments that represent
American democracy and values: b. Arizona symbols (e.g., seal, flag), c. war
memorials (e.g., Pearl Harbor- Arizona Memorial, WW II, Korean, and
Vietnam Memorials)
– PO 3.: a. Describe Arizona’s transition from territory to statehood: a.
locations of capital
– PO 4. Describe the varied backgrounds of people living in Arizona: a. shared
principles, goals, customs and traditions
• Strand 4
– PO 5. Describe how regions and places (e.g., Grand Canyon, Colorado River,
Casa Grande Ruin, Canyon de Chelly, Yucatan Peninsula) have distinct
characteristics.
Arizona Department of Education . (2006). Social studies standard articulated by grade level fourth grade. Retrieved from
https://cms.azed.gov/home/GetDocumentFile?id=550c589caadebe15d072a9e9

8. 4th Grade ELA Standards
• 4.W.2
– Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and
information clearly.
• b. Develop the topic with facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other
information and examples related to the topic.
• d. Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform about or explain
the topic.
• 4.W.4
– Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development and organization are
appropriate to task, purpose, and audience
• 4.W.6
– With some guidance and support from adults, use technology, including the internet, to
produce and publish writing as well as to interact and collaborate with others;
demonstrate sufficient command of keyboarding skills to complete a writing task.
Arizona Department Of Education. (2017). Arizona’s english language arts standards. Retrieved from
https://cms.azed.gov/home/GetDocumentFile?id=585aa8e9aadebe12481b843f

9. Relevant PBL Elements
• Students must ask themselves
what people would care about
seeing if they were to visit
Arizona
• They must then research the
state to answer this question,
sometimes combining
information from multiple
sources
I believe that all of the elements of PBL are relevant to fourth grade
students studying Social Studies and ELA:
Larmer, J. (2015). Gold Standard PBL: Essential Project Design Elements. Retrieved from
https://www.bie.org/blog/gold_standard_pbl_essential_project_design_elements

10. Relevant PBL Elements (Cont.)
• Students will choose whether
they want to create a travel
brochure or poster, and will
decide what information to
present
• Students will peer review each
other’s work, using a grading
rubric, and will revise their own
work afterwards
• Students will create a poster or
brochure which will be displayed
in the school hallway
Larmer, J. (2015). Gold Standard PBL: Essential Project Design Elements. Retrieved from
https://www.bie.org/blog/gold_standard_pbl_essential_project_design_elements

11. References
Arizona Department of Education . (2006). Social studies standard articulated by grade level fourth
grade. Retrieved from https://cms.azed.gov/home/GetDocumentFile?id=550c589caadebe15d072a9e9
Arizona Department Of Education. (2017). Arizona’s english language arts standards. Retrieved from
https://cms.azed.gov/home/GetDocumentFile?id=585aa8e9aadebe12481b843f
Larmer, J. (2015). Gold Standard PBL: Essential Project Design Elements. Retrieved from
https://www.bie.org/blog/gold_standard_pbl_essential_project_design_elements
Price, A. (2010). What are the benefits for teaching and learning of cross-curricular work using thinking
skills, techniques and language?. Retrieved from
http://www.ntrp.org.uk/sites/all/documents/A.%20Price%20FINAL.pdf
Skiff, D. (2009). What is self-directed learning?. Retrieved from
http://www.selfdirectedlearning.org/what-is-self-directed-learning