Engineering Design meets Nursery Rhymes and Tall Tales

Antonietta Quinn, Nancy Shellenberger & Mary W. Thomas, Monroe 2 BOCES

Elementary Science Program

Getting to know you…

• Getting to know all about you…• Please share with us the following:– Your name– Where you work and what you do (i.e. school

name & grade currently teaching)– The best thing you’ve learned at this conference

so far….

What are NYS Common Core Modules/ Domains?

From https://www.engageny.org

• “In order to assist educators with the implementation of the Common Core, the New York State Education Department provides curricular modules in P-12 English Language Arts and Mathematics that schools and districts can adopt or adapt for local purposes. “

What is Engineering Design?

• systematic process for solving problems • based on scientific knowledge• the solution has to balance competing criteria

of desired function, cost, safety, etc. • no single best solution exists but rather a range

of solutions

The best solution is determined based on the criteria of the problem.

Engineering Design Process (Primary K- 2)

What is the problem?

Brainstorm ideas.

Test it!

How did it work?

Build it!

Choose an idea.

Three Different Design Challenges

• Kindergarten – The Three Little Pigs

• Grade 1 – Jack and the Bean Stalk

• Grade 2 – Casey Jones

“We’ll Huff and we’ll Puff!”

• Read the story. Hey – it looks like those pigs need an engineer!

• Problem: The pigs’ houses blow down.• Challenge: Design a house that will stay up

when the wolf tries to blow it down.– Test with either a hairdryer or fan– Must fit on white tray, have an entrance and fit

the pig inside– Materials are open-ended

“Hurry up, Jack!”

• Review the story!• Problem: Jack has to get down the beanstalk

quickly or he’ll be caught by the Giant!• Design a contraption to help Jack get safely

and quickly down the bean stalk.– Jack is a hard boiled egg, he can have NO cracks– Available materials are on the table, make a

supply list– The beanstalk height is 8 feet above the floor

“Move that Coal!”

• Review the story and the challenge.• Problem: Casey Jones’ coal car has to be

loaded quickly!• Challenge: Design a process to get the coal

(marbles) loaded into the coal car quickly– The coal and the coal car are 24 inches apart– Use only materials provided– Must complete the Materials Request Form

Show and Tell!

• Each group will work on their project and then show their Challenge, Criteria, and Solution to the rest of us!

• Reflection: What worked well, what didn’t work so well?

Helping children work together

• Use a consistent list of classroom rules for group work (such as: take turns, be respectful, do your own work, etc.)

• Provide structured opportunities for group work and to practice social skill development (i.e. give students specific jobs, give each some pieces of a puzzle to share, etc.)

• Discussion: What works for you???

A few details…

• The Materials list can be very helpful for the teacher because without SOME type of guide-lines for materials, they can request really crazy stuff!

• A goal for students to work toward is to be able to give and take constructive criticism about their projects. Learning to do this should be part of the “Science Talk” sessions.

That’s all folks!

• Take 30 seconds per person to talk about what you are taking away with you from this session.

• Share with the whole group.

Finding us!

• The Monroe 2 Orleans BOCES Elementary Science Program

• www.espsciencetime.org• aquinn@monroe2boces.org• nshellen@monroe2boces.org• mthomas@monroe2boces.org