This past week we began a new unit on Engineering. The students learned that engineers create new things to solve problems. We looked at past problems and how engineers solved them (e.g. bright sun = sunglasses). We also looked at old inventions and how engineers have improved them (e.g. first cellphone and today's iphone).
We discussed the engineering process:
Over the course of the week, the children listened to stories that inspired problems to be solved through engineering.
Their first challenge was to create a shelter for a Lego person to keep him/her dry in the rain. Students could choose between small Legos or Duplo.
After reading Iggy Peck Architect by Andrea Beaty the students were challenged to build a bridge. In the story, Iggy creates replicas of famous structures (Leaning Tower of Pisa, Sphinx, Golden Gate Bridge). The students were asked to do the same. Given a picture of a famous bridge the children were asked to make a replica using wooden or foam blocks, Keva blocks, Legos or Magnatiles. As a class we discussed different types of bridges; beam, suspension and arch. Then the children set to work.
Next we read a book about ramps and learned that ramps take something from a high place to a low place. We looked at different types of ramps such as those on moving vans, conveyor belts, hills, and playground slides. Then we conducted a science experiment to see how different classroom materials (car, paper clip, Lego, animal figure, crayon, etc.) moved down a ramp. Did they slide or roll? The children made predictions, took turns doing the experiment and then sorted the responses.
Afterward, the students worked in pairs to build their own ramps. They were challenged to create the longest ramp they could with three wooden pieces and to create a ramp where a ball rolled down would land in a cup. Once they achieved these two criteria, students were asked to add a tunnel to their ramp. After a great deal of conversation, trial and error, improving and fun, all of the groups were able to make a working ramp. We gathered as a class again and discussed how friction can impact the speed of an object going down a ramp. The students noted the differing speeds of cars going down ramps covered with foil, felt, rubber and glue. Students concluded that the foil was the fastest, while the glue, because bumpy, was the slowest.
Finally, after reading The Little Red Fort by Brenda Maier students worked together to build their own forts out of blankets and towels.
Within the classroom several activities were available to encourage engineering through play.
Dramatic Play
In the dramatic play center we have a construction site set up. Students are able to use a variety of materials to build such as wooden blocks, foam shapes, pattern blocks and Lego bricks. They can draw blueprints of different building structures, use the workbench and dig using construction vehicles.
Sensory Table
At the sensory table we've brought back sand. Students are using miniature construction vehicles, as well as containers and shovels to move and create with the sand.
Building
The rest of the classroom has a variety of building materials for the students to employ their imagination and engineer structures of their choice.
