Brianna Derrick Spring 2020 4th Grade

Practicum STEM Lesson Plan

Libby Bouma
Walnut Street School

Learning Target:
We can use creativity to solve problems.
We can use listening to work together in groups.

Standards Addresses:
3–5–ETS1–1
Define a simple design problem reflecting a need or a want that includes specified criteria for
success and constraints on materials, time, or cost.
SS.4.11
Describe how scarcity requires a person to make a choice and identify costs associated with
that choice.

Materials Needed:
o Bucket with water
o Boat building materials
 Tinfoil
 Mini cups
 Straws
 Cardstock
 Tape
 Ping-Pong balls

Lesson Introduction:
“We’ve been learning a lot about the revolutionary war recently; can anyone tell me the
two sides in the war? And what were some reasons the patriots wanted freedom? Great, now
who were some important people during the revolution?”
“So, I was looking at the mail today and I saw this letter, from George Washington. Can I
have someone read the letter?”

Lesson Procedure:
Good ole George is requesting a boat. He wants it to take supplies across the river to the
patriots on the other side. The army doesn’t have much money so students will have to decide
what they want to buy to build their boat. Everyone goes to the same merchant, so supplies are
scarce. (Make sure the students know the definition of scarce.) Their goal is to have the boat
contain as much supplies (stones) as possible.
 Groups
o Students will work in groups of 2-3 for the activity
 Budget
o Students will have $10 to build their boat. They can spend it on whatever they
like but everything costs money and is in limited supply.
Brianna Derrick Spring 2020 4th Grade

o The budget for each group will be kept on a white board and changed when they
spend money. Show the math and ask students to subtract their spending.
 While the students work
o The teacher will go around and help students as needed. They will keep track of
the budget and supplies.
 There are two buckets of water for the students to test their boat in throughout the
work time.

Differentiation:
If the activity seems to easy:
(Increase the cost) Warn the students that their supplies are being bought by Britain and if they
change the tax, the cost of supplies will go up. This will force students to be more spend thrifty
and provide and extra challenge.
(Remove supplies) Warn the students that they are in war and sometimes it’s hard to get a
shipment of supplies in.

Closure:
Test the boats with the stones to see how many each one can hold.
Talk about why the students think that boat held the most. What made this activity
difficult? How would it be different if they had unlimited money? What about unlimited
supplies? Did anyone buy anything they didn’t use? Did anyone regret buying something?

Student Evaluation/Assessment:
(Informal) The teacher will listen while the students are answering summarizing
questions during the closing.