$23.99 USD
Category: Elementary, English, Lesson Bundles, Structure and Function
Downloadable (1 PDF - 123 pages)
The following activities are included in this guide. The list is not prescriptive and teachers may select activities that are most appropriate for their students.
Activity |
Overview |
Resources included |
Additional resources required |
Lesson: What to Use |
Use background knowledge of a variety of materials, such as wood, metals, glass, steel, etc., to explain the choices of materials used in the construction of traditional and contemporary objects. |
Lesson plan Student worksheet Vocabulary cards Various playing cards |
1 die per group |
Lesson: A Design Masterpiece |
Students will research tipis, focusing on the choices of materials and design. The lesson will conclude by having students create their own tipi, justifying their material choice. |
Lesson plan Student worksheets x2 Material tags |
Computer with internet access White board Various construction |
Lesson: Protecting your Noggin'! |
Hockey and bike helmets need to be strong to protect your head. In this experiment you will use household materials to build an egg protector and protect an egg from a fall. |
Lesson plan Student worksheet |
2 eggs per group Garbage bags Various construction materials |
Lesson: Paper Pipelines Project |
In this experiment students will build their own pipelines to transport different materials from one place to another. Students will experiment with their pipeline to determine how to make objects flow faster or slower. |
Lesson plan Student worksheet |
Coins Small plastic dish/cup Water Marbles, golf balls, cotton balls. Various construction materials |
Lesson: Build a Musical Instrument |
Students will investigate how energy is converted to produce sound energy and music in instruments. Students will then have the opportunity to design and build their own instruments with unique sounds. |
Lesson plan Student worksheet |
An instrument Various construction materials |
Lesson: Building Bridges |
In this hands-on design challenge, students are asked to construct a bridge that can withstand the greatest amount of mass. Focus is on identification of forces, documenting the design with a drawing and making design decisions based on testing results/peer feedback. |
Lesson plan Rubric Peer review sheet Arch bridge example |
Coins Tape measure Various construction materials |
Lesson: Buoyant Boats |
Design and construct different kinds of small boats in this experiment as you explore the science behind engineering and design. |
Lesson plan Student worksheet |
Plastic tub Water Pennies or other coins Stopwatch (preferably visible for the whole class) Various construction materials |
Experiment: Repack |
Start thinking about all the packaging we use every day. In this hands-on activity, you’ll need to re-design a package, thinking about the function and materials as well as the environmental impact of using those materials. Can you reduce the amount of packaging? |
Experiment details |
Packaging example Various construction materials |