Reimagining PE Through Project-Based Learning

In this energizing episode of NTN Unpacked, returning co-host and NTN School Development Coach Val Grijalva sits down with veteran educator Laura Pacheco of Young Women’s STEAM Academy in El Paso, Texas, to explore how project-based learning (PBL) can transform physical education into a deeply inclusive, collaborative, and meaningful experience.

With over a decade of teaching experience and seven years of PBL implementation under her belt, Coach Pacheco shares how she’s designed PE projects that go far beyond movement — projects that connect students to real-world issues, cross-curricular learning, and their own creativity.

You’ll hear reflections on:

• How students launched a campaign to bring softball and baseball to their district — and succeeded
  
  
• Annual PBL traditions like National Girls and Women in Sports Day, and how they’ve built community and student pride
  
  
• Strategies for making PE inclusive for all students, including those with physical disabilities or less interest in competitive sports
  
  
• How student-led drills, artifact creation, and cross-curricular design deepen both engagement and understanding
  
  
• The logistics and assessment strategies that make PBL possible — even in 90-minute blocks or 45-minute daily sessions
  
  
• What it takes to launch a successful PBL in PE, and why “starting ugly” is perfectly OK
  
  

Whether you're a PE teacher wondering if PBL is even possible in your gym, or a school leader hoping to inspire new ways to engage every student, this episode is full of practical tips, real stories, and heartfelt wisdom.

📌 BONUS: Curious how to start project-based learning in your own classroom — even if you're brand new to it? Check out NTN’s guide to What is PBL and How to Start Trying it Today.

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