STEM Lesson Plan
STEM Lesson Plan
Teacher: [Your Name]
Email: [Your Email]
Date: May 12, 2060
Field |
Details |
---|---|
Lesson Title |
Building Bridges: Engineering Stability |
Grade Level |
5th Grade |
Subject Area(s) |
Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) |
Duration |
90 minutes |
Objectives
-
Learning Objectives:
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:-
Understand and apply the principles of engineering design to build a bridge.
-
Calculate the load capacity of their bridge design using basic mathematical operations.
-
Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of various bridge designs through testing.
-
-
STEM Skills Targeted:
-
Problem-Solving: Developing solutions to design challenges.
-
Critical Thinking: Evaluating different bridge structures and materials.
-
Collaboration: Working in teams to design and build a bridge.
-
Materials Needed
-
Building Materials:
-
Popsicle sticks (100 per group)
-
Glue (white school glue and hot glue guns)
-
String (for suspension bridge models)
-
Weights (small bags of sand or washers for testing load)
-
-
Tools:
-
Rulers (to measure dimensions)
-
Scissors (for cutting materials)
-
-
Technology:
-
Tablets or computers (for research on bridge designs)
-
Presentation software (e.g., Google Slides or PowerPoint)
-
-
Handouts:
-
Bridge design planning sheet
-
Assessment rubric
-
Lesson Overview
-
Introduction (10 minutes):
-
Begin with a short video showcasing different types of bridges (e.g., suspension, arch, beam).
-
Pose the question: “What makes a bridge strong enough to hold weight?”
-
Discuss the importance of bridges in everyday life.
-
-
Direct Instruction (15 minutes):
-
Present a brief overview of engineering design principles:
-
Identify a problem
-
Research and brainstorm solutions
-
Plan and build prototypes
-
Test and improve designs
-
-
Explain how forces (compression, tension, and shear) affect bridges.
-
Introduce the project goal: to design and build a bridge using specified materials.
-
-
Guided Practice (25 minutes):
-
Divide students into small groups (3-4 students each).
-
Distribute the bridge design planning sheet and allow groups to brainstorm ideas.
-
Walk around to facilitate discussions and encourage the use of math for measuring.
-
After groups finalize their designs, provide materials for the building phase.
-
-
Independent Practice (25 minutes):
-
Groups build their bridge according to their designs.
-
Remind students to keep track of their calculations for length, width, and height.
-
Once completed, groups will present their bridges and explain the design choices they made.
-
-
Closure (10 minutes):
-
Conduct a “Bridge Testing Day” where each group tests their bridge’s load capacity.
-
After testing, have a class discussion about which designs held the most weight and why.
-
Reinforce the concepts of engineering and mathematical calculations used during the project.
-
Assessment
-
Formative Assessment:
-
Observe group discussions and participation during the design phase.
-
Use questioning techniques to gauge understanding of engineering concepts.
-
-
Summative Assessment:
-
Evaluate each group’s bridge based on:
-
Design innovation
-
Strength (load capacity)
-
Presentation clarity
-
-
Use the assessment rubric to provide feedback.
-
Differentiation Strategies
-
For Advanced Learners:
-
Challenge students to design a bridge that incorporates an additional feature (e.g., a moving part).
-
Encourage them to use CAD software to design their bridge virtually.
-
-
For Struggling Learners:
-
Provide a bridge template to help guide their construction.
-
Pair them with a peer mentor for support during the design and building process.
-
Reflection
-
Post-Lesson Reflection:
-
After the lesson, reflect on what worked well:
-
Were students engaged in the activities?
-
Did they demonstrate an understanding of the concepts?
-
-
Consider areas for improvement:
-
Were there any challenges in group dynamics?
-
How could the materials or time allocation be adjusted for future lessons?
-
-