Engaging 6th grade STEM math PBL unit! Students design backpacks using surface area, volume & economics. Perfect for back-to-school collaboration.

Kick off the school year with an engaging Back-to-School Math & STEM Project that gets students excited about learning! In this 6th Grade Backpack Design Challenge, students take on the role of design engineers tasked with creating the ultimate backpack for middle school students.

This hands-on, project-based learning (PBL) unit integrates math, STEM, economics, and collaboration skills, making it perfect for the first weeks of school.

Working in teams, students:

• Research the history and purpose of backpacks
• Apply surface area and volume calculations to real-world design
• Explore market research and economics concepts
• Create and test prototypes using the Engineering Design Process
• Give and receive peer feedback for design improvements
• Present their final backpack prototypes to the class or a public audience
  

Skills & Standards Covered:

• Math: Volume of prisms, surface area of polygons using nets, operations with decimals, data analysis
• STEM: Engineering Design Process, prototyping, problem solving
• Economics: Market research, pricing, consumer needs
• ELA: Argumentative writing, presentation skills
• Collaboration & 21st Century Skills
  

What’s Included:

• Project calendar and schedule
• Standards and learning targets
• Scope and sequence & overview
• Pre-assessment
• Rubrics for presentations & prototypes
• Peer evaluation forms
• 15 lesson plans & PowerPoint presentations
• Warm-up activities
• Formative & summative assessments
• Extensions for enrichment
  

Why Teachers Love It:
✔ Perfect back-to-school icebreaker with real-world application
✔ Builds strong collaboration and problem-solving skills
✔ Cross-curricular connections to math, STEM, ELA, and economics
✔ Flexible — works for grades 5–8 with minimal adjustments

Standards Alignment:

• Common Core Math Standards (6.NS, 6.G, 6.SP
• Next Generation Science Standards (MS-ETS1)
• ELA Speaking & Listening Standards
• Illinois Social Studies Standards (Economics)
  

Get your students designing, calculating, collaborating, and presenting — all while building excitement for the new school year!

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