Engineering in the Elementary Classroom

Presenter: Karin Barone NBCT

STEM Specialist

4th Grade GATE teacher OUSD

kbarone74@gmail.com

Edmodo Class Code: w7ibux

Engineering Challenge

Can you build the tallest tower in 10 minutes without

talking?

Criteria and Constraints You can only use the materials provided: spaghetti

noodles and spice drops

No talking is allowed; hand gestures and drawing are allowed.

Your structure can be made in any shape or design.

It must be able to stand for 10 seconds without any team members holding it.

You must use a ruler to measure the height of your structure.

What is STEM education?• Interdisciplinary• Provides engagement• Promotes problem solving, critical thinking, and

collaboration • Learner centered• Information rich• Teacher as facilitator

Why is STEM Education important? The global economy has flattened in terms of skills

and technology A new workforce of problem-solvers, innovators, and

inventors who are self-reliant and able to think logically is one of the critical foundations that drive a state economy's innovation capacity”

• 13 million Americans are Unemployed

• But 3.8 million jobs in the U.S. remain unfilled in the STEM fields.

STEM Education Develops Skills That Allow for a Deeper Understanding of Content

“Reading and writing comprise over half of the work of scientists and

engineers.”(NRC 2011)

“STEM Education integrates all four contents of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.

It is the process of teaching that integratesfour disciplines to promote

• real-world experience• teamwork• application of technology• discovery learning• problem-based or project based learning.

STEM is supported by the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Education.Goal: College and Career Readiness

“STEM Education seeks to increase access to learning by preparing students for post-secondary study, the 21st century workforce, and becoming

informed citizens.”

Current Matching Standard

Scientific & Engineering Practices1. Asking questions (for science) and defining

problems (for engineering)2. Developing and using models3. Planning and carrying out investigations4. Analyzing and interpreting data5. Using mathematics and computational thinking6. Constructing explanations (for science) and

designing solutions (for engineering)7. Engaging in argument from evidence8. Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating

information

ELA

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Claim#1

Reading“Students can read closely and analytically to comprehend a range of increasingly complex literary and informational texts.”

Claim#2

Writing“Students can produce effective and well-grounded writing for a range of purposes and audiences.”

Claim#3

Speaking and Listening“Students can employ effective speaking and listening skills for a range of purposes and audiences.”

Claim#4

Research/Inquiry“Students can engage in research and inquiry to investigate topics, and to analyze, integrate, and present information.”

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aim

s Claim

#1Concepts & Procedures “Students can explain and apply mathematical concepts and interpret and carry out mathematical procedures with precision and fluency.”

Claim#2

Problem Solving“Students can solve a range of complex well-posed problems in pure and applied mathematics, making productive use of knowledge and problem solving strategies.”

Claim#3

Communicating Reasoning“Students can clearly and precisely construct viable arguments to support their own reasoning and to critique the reasoning of others.”

Claim#4

Modeling and Data Analysis“Students can analyze complex, real-world scenarios and can construct and use mathematical models to interpret and solve problems.”

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ELA Shifts Math Shifts1. Informational Text

Building knowledge through content-rich non-fiction.

1. FocusNarrow the scope of content and deepen how time and energy is spent.

2. Evidence from TextReading, writing, and speaking grounded in evidence from text, both literary and informational.

2. CoherenceIntegration across grades & subject areas.

3. Text ComplexityRegular practice with complex text and its academic language.

3. RigorConceptual understanding, procedural fluency, and application of skills in problem solving situations.

Where do you start?

with

Engineering

Engineering a Nametag

Problem: We have spent the past few weeks getting to know everyone in our class, but there are so many names to remember and Mrs.______is calling students by the wrong name.

Design Challenge:

Mrs.________needs your help to remember your name! Design and create a name tag for you to wear to help others remember your name.

Criteria and Constraints 2 index cards 1 paper clip 1 glue stick Scissors tape yarnConstruction paper colored markers

Must have your first and last name spelled correctly Must have 3 things about yourself shown on nametag Must use at least 3 colors Must be able to stay somewhere on your body without being

held with your handsTime: 10 minutesFurther Challenge/redesign: less materials ???

Engineering Process

How to get started…Path #1

1. Use the internet to find free engineering projects/units

2. Try these out to help you get started and understand how to set-up an engineering project

3. Look at the website suggestions on the hand-out

4. Collect supplies from students

How to get started…Path #21. You have to understand the engineering design process

and how it differs from the scientific method2. Look through your science TE’s and/or hands-on

curriculum, social studies textbook, and language arts curriculum for engineering opportunities.

3. Take those opportunities and turn them into engineering projects using the design process

4. Collect supplies from students.

How to create an engineering project

1. What is the problem to be solved or what needs to be created.

2. Develop your constraints (materials/time)

3. Assign jobs and roles for the students

4. Create some sort of lab sheet that you want the students to be taking notes on

5. Create an assessment tool to evaluate the product at the end

6. Allow time for improvements or at least discussion of improvements

7. Above all else, reassure the students, and yourself, that it’s okay to fail

4th Grade Examples

Electricity/magnetism unit:

After learning about types of circuits, make electricity houses, or an electric city.

Design a lunch box alarm (connects to Dear Mr. Henshaw)

Design a circuit board that can be used for content review with questions

Design a compass, or a telegraph

4th Grade examplesLanguage arts:

Sled design for HM story

Lunch box alarm (Dear Mr. Henshaw)

Social Studies:

Design a way for Native Americans to communicate while living on the mission

4th Grade: Language arts/engineering

21st Century Learning Skills:• Critical Thinking• Creative Thinking• Collaboration • Communication

Objective: To work collaboratively to design an Iditarod sled to take Balto and his serum to Nome without falling out of the sled.

Constraints:• 1 day to design• 1 day to build• Must be light enough to be pulled

by washers• Extra points awarded for creativity

Challenges: • Yukon River Pull• Pressure Ridges• Open Lead

Sled Design

4th Grade ExamplesLife Science:

Imagine and create a new species of animal. Build the animal, label the body parts, describe the environment it would live in.

Earth Science:

Make hieroglyphics in rock samples (EIE unit)

5th Grade examplesLife science: Construct models of the different systems in the human body

(working maybe?) Design a knee brace only using given materials Design an alien species describing it’s internal organsEarth science: Design and build working models of weather instruments, and

record data over a period of time Design and build a working model of the water cycle Design and build a landing system for the Mars rover Build a water filtration system

5th grade: Science/Engineering/Math

21st Century Learning Skills:• Critical Thinking• Creative Thinking• Collaboration• Communication

Objective: To work collaboratively through the engineering design process to design a knee brace that will limit the range of motion of an injured knee.

Constraints:• Three days to design and build• One day to test range of motion

using a goniometer• Can only use materials provided

by the teacher

Challenge:To design your knee brace so that the range of motion of the brace only allows the injured knee to bend backward. Points awarded for range of motion.

Knee Brace Design

6th Grade Examples

Design and build earthquake safe structures Design and build a model that shows Pangaea and

the current location of continents Design and build solar houses and/or solar ovens Design a method for cleaning up an oil spill Build a working model that shows the three different

types of plate boundaries. Invention fair

6th grade: Science/Engineering/Math

21st Century Learning Skills:• Critical Thinking• Creative Thinking• Collaboration• Communication

Objective: To design and build a bridge with a given budget, to purchase materials, that must withstand a specified amount of weight and meet all length, height, and width requirements

Constraints:• $1,500,000 to spend on materials• Only cardboard, toothpicks, and

glue can be used• Two days to design• Four days to build• Follow all job descriptions

Challenge:To see how much weight your bridge can withstand before it breaks

Bridge Design

Across grade levels

3x5 card towers

Bridge building

Parachute building

Egg drop container

Look at teacherspayteachers, EIE.org, and Google for many, many more

3x5 card towers

Bridge Building

Why Teach Inquiry Science and Engineering?

STEM Proficient Students

Investigators and Problem Solvers

Effective Communicators

Technologically, Scientifically, and Mathematically Literate

Logical Thinkers