Innovative action learning labs (StEM & Makerspace PD)
Free Materials for activities- Good Garbage- Frankfort Avenue- call ahead, they can possibly pull materials out for you.
Five steps of the Engineering Process
- Ask
- Imagine
- Plan
- Create
- Improve
Teaching process is more student based rather than teacher based.
Tower Challenges-
These challenges are not necessarily the ones you should START the STEM groups with, but is a good learning experience.
- Index Card Tower challenge- Were given 100 index cards, 24 inches of tape, ruler. Must be 24 inches tall (we got 18 inches) and should support something of slight weight. (used beanie baby bear)
- Marshmallow and spaghetti tower challenge- Build with linguini, spaghetti, and marshmallows. Must be 12 inches high, and should support something of slight weight. (beanie baby bear) Provide a base of cardboard or cardstock. They get to work for 15-20 minutes.
These challenges are not necessarily the ones you should START the STEM groups with, but is a good learning experience.
Primary ideas
Towers with cups, using legos, using blocks, using tinker toys, using newspapers, etc. Using a balance- students could figure out how to balance certain things.
If administrators ask- students are learning engineering design process,
If administrators ask- students are learning engineering design process,
Intermediate ideas
- Design a catapult- using spoon, marshmallow, clothespins- see how far it will go? Measure record class or groups? Use a penny- record heads or tails?
- Design a lunar landing- 2 large marshmallows are the astronauts- can use materials- straws, paper, marshmallows, larger cup, smaller cup- astronauts cannot fall out upon landing, and need to land softly.
- Design a four wheel car- select materials- Jet- balloon, flexible straw, rubber band or tape body (use one)- water bottle, toilet paper roll, juice box, disposable cup, fast- food or clamshell container, ice cream contianer, small milk container axles- straws, barbeque sqewers, chopsticks wheels- bottle caps, candy mints, with hole in middle, CDs, cardboard circles Connector for attaching wheels- dry sponge, foam, clay, marshmallow (cut in half) The car will have to move across the table-
Website Resources
www.elmers.com/teachers
http://scigirlsconnect.org/
www.eie.org and www.mos.org/eie/educatorresources
http://www.teachengineering.org/
http://scigirlsconnect.org/
www.eie.org and www.mos.org/eie/educatorresources
http://www.teachengineering.org/