How high can you go?
In our opening lesson, the 3rd graders were challenged to design and build the tallest skyscraper possible while keeping the integrity of the structure in mind. The structure had to not only be tall, but also well made because each building had to be earthquake safe. Testing would ensure that these building models met each of the criteria!
Using the Engineering Design Process and the 4 C's of group work, each team set out to meet the challenge. First, each student was able to work individually to IMAGINE some possibilities of how their structures should be designed. Next, the team members met together to share these individual ideas and collaborated on how to put them together to come up with one PLAN. Using their plan, each team began to CREATE their buildings.
After lots of diagramming, measuring, construction, and improvements, the skyscrapers were ready to test! Each group's skyscraper had to survive 10 seconds in the quake testing zone!
During testing, I shared the importance of encouraging one another's designs. I loved how the students all counted down while each structure was in the quake testing zone and celebrated each others ideas. The students were also asked to share thoughtful feedback about their peers' designs.
Through this challenge the 3rd graders learned the valuable lesson in problem solving. There were many awesome plans made by the different teams, however, the steps needed to take to bring those ideas to life require a lot of thought. Learning these skills will help the STEMmers in future lessons as well as in many other areas of life. Overall, each group did a great job!
Through this challenge the 3rd graders learned the valuable lesson in problem solving. There were many awesome plans made by the different teams, however, the steps needed to take to bring those ideas to life require a lot of thought. Learning these skills will help the STEMmers in future lessons as well as in many other areas of life. Overall, each group did a great job!