Group items tagged

Extensions: This activity connects Natural Science with English (LA).   Students read books about recycling, reusing and reducing waste.   They also read about birdhouses. Finally, they write an essay on how the house is earth friendly. Adaptations: Gifted students can make their own birdhouse and document type of bird and habitat it is designed for.  ESL and Special Ed students can work in small groups or pairs to design birdhouse and do research/reading together. 

The Design Process: Identify a need or problem to be solved; brainstorm potential solutions; throughout the entire design process, document the design with drawings (including labels) in a portfolio or notebook so that the process can be replicated; select a solution to the need or problem; select the most appropriate materials to develop a solution that will meet the need; evaluate and test the design. This activity can be adapted for gifted students by allowing them to first draw a blueprint of their model. This will allow them to make predictions and hypothesis about their cube model and their tag board model. These students can then record their observations and their conclusions about their final product. This activity can also be adapted for younger grades by giving the students more materials to help them balance their models. Also, allowing the younger students to work in partners, rather than pairs, will allow them to more freely express their ideas. Working with a partner will give each student the opportunity to make sure their ideas are heard. For younger students, omitting the blueprint may also be helpful. Rather, having the students simply draw a picture of their model with labels may be more appropriate.

5.4.2 "Investigate the purpose of prototypes and models when designing a solution to a problem and how limitations in cost and design features might affect their construction." This activity can be modified for gifted students by having them make predictions or recommendations about the types of materials that could be added to the boats to improve their design and function. The activity could be modified for younger grades by having them design only two boats and decide which one is better. This would be ideal, because younger students may take more time to build and design their boats.

This has some interesting variations to our pennies in the boat activity. I like the math connection with the bidding slip and making sure they save their boats for later comparisons.

The Design Process: Identify a need or problem to be solved; brainstorm potential solutions; document the design throughout the entire design process; select the most appropriate materials to develop a solution that will meet the need; create the solution through a prototype; test and evaluate how well the solution meets the goal; communicate how to improve the solution. This activity can be modified for gifted students by having them record their predictions, as well as measure how much weight each bridge held. The activity can be adjusted for younger grades by having them design only one bridge, rather than several. It can also be adjusted by providing specific materials for the younger students, rather than giving them a wide variety of choices for materials.

While this activity does not cover a specific standard it does meet the requirement of teaching the design process.  Make sure that students must design, test, and revise their design to make the activity authentic.  A race would be a great final activity.  Assessment could come from an oral presentation on what they did and why or a visual presentation, such as a poster.

SC.2.3.7 2000Investigate and observe that the way to change how something is moving is to give it a push or a pull.

The Design ProcessAs citizens of the constructed world, students will participate in the design process.  Students will learn to use materials and tools safely and employ the basic principles of the engineering design process in order to find solutions to problems.3.4.2

This project would also be excellent for creating a sense of community in the classroom as everyone would be working together toward a common goal (acceptance of their project by NASA_.   ELL differentiation:  I would probably find a different project to accommodate ELL's as this project is very intense, and requires a strong command of language (in order to follow instructions.)  It is possible to create a book of picture instructions for the project or give them a smaller, yet still important role in the class for this particular assignment.

This could truly apply to any 2-6 grade class.  I think it should be hands on instead of just the worksheet, and modified the activity in the bookmark.  ELL'swill like the project because it is more hands on.

2.1.3. Predict and experiment with methods (e.g. sieving, evaporation) to separate solids and liquids based on their physical properties.2.1.4 Observe, sketch, demonstrate and compare how objects can move in different ways (e.g., straight, zig-zag, back-and-forth, rolling, fast and slow).2.1.5 Describe the position or motion of an object relative to a point of reference (e.g., background, another object).2.1.6 Observe, demonstrate, sketch and compare how applied force (i.e., push or pull) changes the motion of objects. Differentiation: Instead of writing out a hypothesis, have special education students draw the designs or what they predict will happen to the salt when they swing their pendulum.

If I were to do this activity I would instead give the students a set of materials that they can use and have groups compete to use the same materials to design the best marshmallow launcher.  Before beginning, talk to students about strategies for solving this type of problem, such as sketching a plan of the design.

One final thought, advanced student might enjoy learning about the formulas of projectile motion.

5.4.1 Investigate technologies that mimic human or animal musculoskeletal systems in order to meet a need.5.4.2 Investigate the purpose of prototypes and models when designing a solution to a problem and how limitations in cost and design features might affect their construction.5.4.3 Design solutions to problems in the context of musculoskeletal body systems. Using suitable tools, techniques and materials, draw or build a prototype or model of a proposed design. Differentiation: For ELL and special education students; Create the model hand with the class as they create it.  Go step by step and do the process with them so they can watch you and hear the directions you are giving.

MA.1.4 2000 - GeometryStudents identify common geometric shapes, classify them by common attributes, and describe their relative position or their location in space.

Allow students to work independently or in small groups.  Provide legos and base plates for student use.  Differentiation may include the chance to design the entire room, or just the toy box.  Students would have an opportunity to visually present, or just set up the model.  

5.4.1 "Investigate technologies that mimic human or animal musculoskeletal systems in order to meet a need." This activity can be adapted for ELL students by allowing those students to draw pictures of their design, rather than write a paragraph or make a chart. If the students are able, they can label the parts of their picture, using the English words they know. This activity can also be adjusted for younger grades by allowing them more than one science class time to work on the project. This may be an activity that can span a few days. The activity can then be broken down into sections. The students could use one class time to ask their questions within their group, and plan what they want their product to look like. The actual design and implementation of their product can be put into place on a separate class day.

Extensions: This activity connects science with music (sound waves). Adaptations: Gifted students can adjust the musical notes that are created by adding more or less water to each glass or create a musical tune.  Have ESL and Special Ed students give a thumbs up or down if sound is higher or lower in pitch and show why.  Do this activity in small groups to help with learning. 

6.4.1 "Understand how to apply potential or kinetic energy to power a simple device"

This activity could be differentiated for gifted students by challenging them to use materials they can find around the classroom other than those provided once they have determined how to successfully build the wheel and axle devices out of the provided materials.