Bringing STEM to your classroom is about creating time and space for these important disciplines with equity and access for all. But it is also about creating opportunities for problem scoping, problem solving, creativity, design, collaboration and more!
So, to get our creative juices flowing lets do an ....
Innovation Whip Around
My name is...
This is a paperclip but it could also be...
Connecting to Wesley
Can you think of a time when you felt excluded? Like an outcast? What happened? How did you feel? What did you do?
Enjoy the story!
Speed up to 1.25
Weslandia
The Challenge
Using the materials available, design a math game that involves a bouncy ball.
Work Time
1. Get with your partner and check out the material tray. These are your constraints. You can only use these items.
2. Design Time on your own. Diagram and label your prototype idea on the sticky note.
3. Share your idea with your partner. Switch.
4. Come up with a plan together. Can you combine your ideas?
5.Create a labeled diagram together on the handout. What will you call it?
Show the materials you are using AND how you play!
Put your Sticky-Note designs on back to show process.
6. Get your design approved by your teacher.
6. Make your game prototype.
7. Test it out!
8. Improve: Make changes to your design as needed. This is called iteration.
9. Write out the step-by-step directions for your game.
10. Document: Get photo taken with final prototype and labeled diagram.
11. Be ready to present your prototype on Monday!
Engineers Present
Norms:
Everyone participates
Be kind, helpful and specific
Celebrate everyone’s hard work
Introduce yourselves
Share your prototype
Talk about the design process
(T.M.I. Think-Make-Improve)
Talk about the materials you used
Talk about teamwork
Thank you and any questions
Celebrations!
Teacher Notes
-Constraints include: tape, scissors, sharpies, yarn, index cards, paper, straws, popsicle sticks, caps, toilet paper rolls, cardboard, variety of size cups, recycled boxes, rubber bands, ....
Design a friendly trap for ________! (stuffed animal, sister, elf on the shelf, etc.)
Make forts.
I love the idea of setting out a building material at night with a building challenge card for the early rising engineer! You can download some great challenge cards here! http://picklebums.com/building-challenge-cards/
The perfect gift for your engineer? Here are some things to consider: marbles, masking tape, rain gutters (Home Depot), a stopwatch, cups and the quintessential cardboard box!
