Aligning PBL with the NGSS: What do the NGSS offer PBL?

The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) present a challenge for teaching and learning that aligns with three-dimensional learning, the integration of core science ideas, crosscutting concepts and scientific and engineering practices. This study describes the 3-year design-based research project to develop, implement, test and redesign teacher facing and student facing materials across 21 classrooms, that use a Project-based Learning context to support the development of the NGSS. After three cycles of implementation, evaluation and revision, the Multiple Literacies in Project-based Learning curriculum demonstrated how authentic, rigorous and supported contexts for teachers can foster upper elementary students' development of all three dimensional of the NGSS through the PBL features of meaningful driving questions, collaboration, focus on learning goals, and physical artifacts.