Life Lab PBL Guide
Life Lab
The Developmental PBL Guide
Grade 10 Psychology
Project ID: DEV-PSY-2026
The Mission
Welcome to the Life Lab. Humans are constant works-in-progress. From the first spark of infant cognition to the reflective wisdom of late adulthood, our physical, social, and cognitive selves are in flux. Your task is to investigate these transformations using the lens of developmental psychology.
Cognitive
Social-Emotional
Physical
The Choice Board
Select one project from the options below. Each option requires you to synthesize psychological theory with creative execution. Reference the rubric for specific grading criteria.
Tech Prototype #01
AI Parenting Assistant
Design a high-fidelity prototype (using Figma, Canva, or a website builder) for an AI-powered app that guides parents through Piaget’s stages. The app must use a smartphone's camera to "scan" a child’s behavior and suggest a specific Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) activity to boost cognitive growth.
Creating (Bloom's) Transformative (PICRAT)
VR Storyboard #02
The Empathy Lens
Design a detailed storyboard for a Virtual Reality experience intended for daycare workers. The VR must simulate "Egocentrism" or "Failure of Conservation" from a toddler's perspective. Your storyboard must explain the psychological mechanics of why the "user" sees the world differently than an adult.
Creating (Bloom's) Transformative (PICRAT)
Multimedia #03
Cross-Gen Podcast
Record a 10-minute podcast episode interviewing individuals from three different life stages (e.g., a child, a teen, and an elder). Focus your questions on Erikson’s Psychosocial stages. Analyze how their current "crisis" (e.g., Identity vs. Role Confusion) manifests in their daily lives.
Analyzing (Bloom's) Amplifying (PICRAT)
Environmental Design #04
The Blueprint for Aging
Act as a gerontological architect. Create a digital 3D model or detailed architectural floor plan for a "Smart Home" designed specifically for an individual experiencing late-adulthood physical and cognitive decline. Include at least 5 tech-integrated features that compensate for specific developmental changes.
Evaluating (Bloom's) Transformative (PICRAT)
Forensic Psych #05
Adolescent Brain on Trial
Write a legal "Amicus Brief" for a supreme court case regarding juvenile sentencing. Use your knowledge of the prefrontal cortex, amygdala development, and synaptic pruning to argue whether a 16-year-old should be held to the same moral and legal standards as a 25-year-old.
Evaluating (Bloom's) Analyzing (PICRAT)
Interactive Media #06
Milestone Interactive
Create an interactive digital timeline (using Genially, Prezi, or H5P) tracking the life of a historical figure. At each stage of their life, you must annotate their actions through the lens of one physical, one cognitive, and one social-emotional milestone.
Analyzing (Bloom's) Amplifying (PICRAT)
Game Design #07
The Moral Maze
Build a choice-based narrative game using "Twine" or a similar branching-logic tool. Players must navigate a series of ethical dilemmas. The "ending" of the game should evaluate the player’s level of moral development based on Kohlberg’s Stages (Pre-conventional, Conventional, or Post-conventional).
Creating (Bloom's) Transformative (PICRAT)
Scientific Study #08
Childhood Unplugged
Conduct a literature review and propose a formal experiment that evaluates the impact of high-frequency touch-screen use on the development of fine motor skills (physical) and attention span (cognitive) in children aged 2–4. Create a professional research poster summarizing your hypothesis and design.
Evaluating (Bloom's) Analyzing (PICRAT)
Engineering #09
Vygotsky's Toy Box
Engineers build things that solve problems. Your task: Design a toy or educational kit for a specific age group (Infancy, Early Childhood, or Middle Childhood). You must provide a "Scaffolding Guide" for parents that explains how the toy utilizes Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development.
Creating (Bloom's) Amplifying (PICRAT)
Film Analysis #10
The Midlife Rewrite
Select a movie character experiencing a "midlife crisis" (e.g., from Up, The Incredibles, or American Beauty). Record a video essay analyzing their transition using Erikson's "Generativity vs. Stagnation" and Levinson's Midlife Transition theory.
Analyzing (Bloom's) Amplifying (PICRAT)
Student Name
Selected Option
Due Date
Life Lab Scoring Rubric
Life Lab Rubric
Mastery Standards for Developmental Psychology PBL
Document: LAB-RUB-01
This rubric evaluates your ability to synthesize psychological theory with creative output. Regardless of which project option you chose, your work will be measured against these four pillars of mastery.
| Criteria | Exceeding (4) | Meeting (3) | Developing (2) |
|---|
| Psychological Theory Application | | | |
| Cognitive / Social / Physical | | | |
| Advanced synthesis of multiple theories (e.g., Piaget & Erikson). Nuanced explanation of how milestones manifest in real-world behavior. Zero inaccuracies. | Accurate application of core developmental theories. Clear connections between psychological concepts and project features. | Basic mention of theories with some minor inaccuracies. Connections between concepts and project are superficial. |
| Creative Execution & Format
PICRAT Alignment
| Output is transformative. Professional-grade prototype, high-fidelity audio/visuals, or sophisticated code/logic. Demonstrates "Creator" mindset. | Output is polished and amplifies the content. Clear effort in design, editing, or construction. Functional and engaging. | Output is functional but lacks polish. Design elements are distracting or incomplete. Minimal use of the chosen medium's potential. |
| Evidence & Depth
Citations & Research
| Utilizes peer-reviewed sources or advanced data. Insights go beyond class notes to explore current debates in developmental psych. | Strong use of class materials and external research. All claims are supported by developmental milestones or biological facts. | Relies solely on general knowledge or limited class notes. Claims are occasionally unsupported by psychological evidence. |
| Communication & Insight
Reflection & Flow
| Compelling narrative or logical flow. High level of empathy and insight into the human condition across the lifespan. | Clear, logical organization. Successfully communicates complex psychological ideas to the intended audience. | Organization is choppy. Intended message or audience is unclear at times. |
Strengths
Growth Opportunities
Total Mastery Score
/ 16
Grade: _______
