pbl

1. ©Laughter & Learning @ Teachers Pay Teachers
PBL Project Overview / Plan
Project Name/Topic the History of Popular Toys
Approximate Dates to be taught or time frame needed for project 2 Weeks
Project Objective/ Goals:
 Students will research popular childrens toys and create a time line of when they were introduced into the sales
market.
 Students will research a specific toy and create a visual to illustrate how the toy has changes over the years
 Students will create a line graph to show the price increase of popular toys over the past decades
 Students will design a new toy that would be successful in today’s toy market.
 Students will write a persuasive essay, persuading a marketer to produce and sell the toy they created.
Standards addressed in the project:
Next Generation Science Standards;
Analyzing and Interpreting Data - Analyzing data in 3–5 builds on K–2 experiences and progresses to introducing
quantitative approaches to collecting data and conducting multiple trials of qualitative observations. When possible
and feasible, digital tools should be used.
Represent data in graphical displays (bar graphs, pictographs and/or pie charts) to reveal patterns that indicate
relationships.
Developing and Using Models - Modeling in 3–5 builds on K–2 experiences and progresses to building and revising
simple models and using models to represent events and design solutions
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W
Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W
Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.

2. ©Laughter & Learning @ Teachers Pay Teachers
Driving Questions:
How could you design a toy that would that would be successful in today’s toy sales market?
How could you make the toy cost efficient for families to be able to purchase?
How could you market or advertise this product?
Materials or resources needed to complete the project:
Student access to internet research.
Sheets for science interactive notebooks/journals.
Various materials for model creation.
Suggestions; cardboard, string, rubber bands, construction paper, pipe cleaner, empty cans, boxes
Project Activity Summary:
Students will research the popular toys of different decades. They will take notes during research. To get a visual
understanding of how toys have changes students will create a timeline of toys through the decades.
Then students will select one of toy of interest that has changed over the years (bicycles, water guns, video game
consoles, action figures, dolls etc.) and create a visual chart of how the toy has developed over the years. Include the
price of production and the price of sales throughout the time.
Students will create a design and a model for a new toy that would be successful in today’s toy market.
Students will present their products to a design team of their peers to try to market the production and sale of their
product.

3. ©Laughter & Learning @ Teachers Pay Teachers

4. ©Laughter & Learning @ Teachers Pay Teachers

5. ©Laughter & Learning @ Teachers Pay Teachers

6. ©Laughter & Learning @ Teachers Pay Teachers

7. ©Laughter & Learning @ Teachers Pay Teachers

8. ©Laughter & Learning @ Teachers Pay Teachers
Name ______________________________________ Date _____________
Directions: complete Venn-Diagram below comparing characteristics of today’s popular toys from those of the
past decades.

9. ©Laughter & Learning @ Teachers Pay Teachers

10. ©Laughter & Learning @ Teachers Pay Teachers

11. ©Laughter & Learning @ Teachers Pay Teachers

12. ©Laughter & Learning @ Teachers Pay Teachers

13. ©Laughter & Learning @ Teachers Pay Teachers
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________

14. ©Laughter & Learning @ Teachers Pay Teachers
Directions: Interview someone who played with toys of a different decade. This can be a parent,
grandparent, aunt, uncle or family friend. Fill out the interview form below.
Person your are interviewing _________________________________ relationship ____________
Interview Questions:
What year were you born? ________________
What was your favorite toy growing up? _______________________________________________
Why did you enjoy playing with this toy so much?
__________________________________________________________________________________________
What were some other toys you had as a child?
__________________________________________________________________________________________
How do you think toys have changed through the years?
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
In your opinion, have the changes in toys been a positive change or a negative change and why?
__________________________________________________________________________________________

15. ©Laughter & Learning @ Teachers Pay Teachers
Name _____________________________________________ Date _______________________
Unit Reflection
1. What did you learn about the changes of toys through the past few decades?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
2. Do you think these changes have made a positive or a negative impact on toys?
___________________________________________________________________________
Why do you feel this way? ______________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
3. What do you feel like were the strengths in the designing of your product?
____________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
4. After hearing the marketing team’s suggestions, what changes would you make product to
your product before offering it to the public?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________

16. ©Laughter & Learning @ Teachers Pay Teachers

17. ©Laughter & Learning @ Teachers Pay Teachers

18. ©Laughter & Learning @ Teachers Pay Teachers