Lesson Cycle

Cora Kuykendall
Lesson Title/Topic: STEM Engineering Challenges
Target Concept: STEM Engineering Design and Process
Standards/Rationale: Grades 3-5: ENGINEERING DESIGN
3-5--ETS1-1: Define a simple design problem reflecting a need or a want that
included specified criteria for success and constraints on materials.
3-5--ETS1-2: Generate and compare multiple possible solutions to a problem based
on how well each is likely to meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.
3-5--ETS1-3: Plan and carry out fair tests in which variables are controlled and
failure points are considered to identify aspects of a model or prototype that can be
improved.
Lesson Objectives: The student will be
able to plan, measure, and execute plan as a
team, will determine the characteristics that
will help the student effectively complete
the challenge with 100% accuracy.

Assessment:
The student will complete the tallest
gumdrop tower activity using the provided
materials.

Materials: 5 by 6 aluminum foil, small tub of water, M&Ms, ruler, 100 toothpicks,
gumdrop, and ruler.
Lesson Cycle: (Direct instruction)
The teacher will:
Focus/Mental Set: Welcome, today we are
going to learn how to think like engineers.
Lets take a look at this photo. By a show
of hands, who believes these M&Ms will
float? What about this one? You are
probably wondering how thinking like an
engineer and looking at these photos is
related to thinking like an engineer. Thats
a question I want you to hold on to: I will
answer it. But first, I want to provide you
with information on what an engineer is.
Teacher Input: There are several types of
engineers, but the main ones are chemical,
civil, mechanical, and industrial.
Chemical Engineers are involved in:
Developing unscratchable plastics for
your Xbox 360.

The student will:

Make predictions whether each item will
sink or float.

Learn about the engineering design cycle.

Complete the notes page that was given by
the teacher.

Inventing new dyes to color toothpaste.

Analyzing materials for sports
equipment.
Civil engineers are involved in the design
and building of:
Highways, bridges, schools, hospitals,
and other buildings we use all the time.
An Industrial engineer may:
Figure out how to produce an iPad even
faster.
Be involved in the design of: iPhones,
Xboxes and Playstations.
The average salary for an engineer is about
$60,000.
So, now that you have some background,
lets learn what thinking like an engineer
means. An engineer would identify the
m&m that doesnt float as a problem, and
would want to figure out how to make it
float. Please pull out your notes page and
we will complete it as a class
An engineer is a person who uses science,
math, and ????? to find solutions problems.
On the count of 3 please recite what you
think the answer is. The answer is
innovation, congratulations to those who
answered correctly!
When engineers solve problems they go
through a 5-step process.
1. Identify the problem.
2. Identify the criteria and constraints.
3. Brainstorm possible solutions.
4. Draw a model or prototype.
5. Build a model and refine the design.
Guided Practice: Take out the aluminum
foil and M&Ms and go through the 5-step
process to build a boat that will hold as
many M&Ms as possible.
We are going to count off 1-2, if you are
a 1 please go to this tub, if you are a 2
C
please go to this tub. As you can see there C
are tubs of water, aluminum foil, and
C
M&Ms up here. Lets think like engineers
and get these M&Ms to float. Please showC
your work on the provided worksheet.

Go through the 5-step process an engineer

would take before building an aluminum
foil boat.
Fold a 5 by 6-inch piece of foil into the
shape of a boat.
Boat must float and hold M&Ms.
Place the boat in a tub of water.
Begin adding M&Ms for the
ships cargo.
See how many M&Ms it will
hold before it sinks.

Independent Practice:
The teacher will split the class into smaller
groups. Present the challenge that they will
do the 5-step process to build the tallest
tower out of gumdrops and toothpicks in 10
minutes.

The groups will go through the 5-step

engineering process to build a gumdrop
tower out of the provided materials. The
goal is to build the tallest tower. The
students will use the ruler to write down
measurements.

Closure: Ask the students to get feedback

from classmates and to write down on a
notecard what they would do differently if
they could rebuild.

Using feedback from other teammates,

students should share what they would do
differently if they could rebuild.

Options:
Enrichment: Have the students modify the
gumdrop tower and build a roof to see how
the students can make the gumdrop tower
withstand pressure. The students will have
to see how to build a stronger roof and
what structure and shapes will allow this to
happen.

Modifications/Correctives:
Follow IEPs.

Reteach: The teacher will give the students

popsicle sticks, cubes, and paper cups. The
teacher will ask the students to build the
tallest structure out of the presented
materials. The teacher will talk to the
students through the 5 steps. 1. We need to
stack these up really high 2. What would be
the best material to use as a base? 3. What
are your ideas to put after the base, after
the next, etc 4. Lets draw what we think it
will look like 5. Lets make it! By having
different shapes, the students can think
through the process using a more visual
approach of having materials that are
different sizes.

Name:Date:

GUMDROP TOWER
The Challenge

challe
Materials

You will have to build the tallest tower out of gumdrops and toothpicks in 10
100 toothpicks
1 cup of gumdr

Your Plan

Use the space below to explain your ideas and plan for instruction. B

An engineer is a person who uses science, math,

and
find solutions to problems.
A. Innovation B. Teamwork C. History D. Google
When engineers solve problems they go through
a 5-step process.

1. Identify the
2. Identify the
3.

and constraints.

possible solutions.

4. Draw a
5.

or prototype.

and refine the design.

What is an engineer?
What is an engineer?
An engineer is a person who uses science, math, and
innovation to find solutions to problems.
When engineers solve problems they go
through a 5-step process.

1. Identify the problem.

2. Identify the criteria and
constraints.
3. Brainstorm possible solutions.
4. Draw a model or prototype.
5. Build a model and refine the
design.

Chemical Engineers are involved in:

Developing unscratchable plastics for your Xbox
360.
Inventing new dyes to color toothpaste.
Analyzing materials for sports equipment.

Civil engineers are involved in the

design and building of:
Highways, bridges, schools, hospitals, and other
buildings we use all the time.

An Industrial engineer may:

Figure out how to produce an iPad even faster.
Be involved in the design of: iPhones, Xboxes and
Playstations.

The average salary for an

engineer is about
$60,000.

Name:Date:

BUILD A BOAT

challenge

The Challenge

Material

You will have to build a boat out of aluminum foil that holds as many M&Ms
5-6 inch piec
Small tub of
M&Ms

Your Plan
Use the space below to explain your ideas and plan for instruction. Be sure