This exploratory study provides a deeper look into the aspects of students' experience from design-based learning (DBL) activities for fifth grade students. Using design-based research (DBR), this study was conducted on a series of science learning activities leveraging mobile phones with relevant applications and sensors. We observed 3 different DBL workshops to understand potential learning effects and develop a curriculum to be reiterated as part of the DBR. The students who participated in this study were (1) provided with resources for their own experiment design, (2) encouraged to engage in problem solving by collective reasoning and solution designs, and (3) scaffolded in documenting, evaluating, and reporting scientific phenomena embedded in a thematic integrative education setting. This exploratory research model may be appropriate in addressing the issues of making science learning more approachable, interesting, enjoyable, and contextual while determining the efficacy of the pedagogy, resources, and conditions needed for the continuous curriculum enhancement process. Key findings suggest that emergence, evolution, and permeation could be promoted in the DBL environment as a pedagogical perspective.