ED 3501

Lesson Plan
Name: Kelsey Bahler
Topic: Shapes of pillars
General

Learning
Outcomes
Specific Leaning

Outcomes

Grade/Subject: Grade 3 Science

Unit: Testing Materials
Date: November 26
Length of Lesson: 1 hour
3-8 Evaluate the suitability of different materials and designs for their use in a
building task.

3-8-3 Describe the properties of some common solids such as wood, paper and
plastic that make them suitable for use as building materials.

3-8-4 Apply procedures to test the strength of construction materials, in

particular, different stocks of papers, plastic or wood.

3-8-5 Apply procedures to test different designs.

Determine what shape of pillar supports the most mass and why
Remember the shape of a material changes how mass is being distributed
Discover the cylindrical pillar supports the most mass

SMART Notes

Kits: 3 pieces of paper, tape, holder, masses, cardboard

Beam shapes video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbyj0TlJrbI

Review: Beam Shape (3-5 minutes)

o Last Thursday we finished testing our beams.
Can anyone remember what the 3 types of
beams were?
o What were the three things the city of
Lethbridge needed us to consider
o Which beam was the most suitable for the job?
o Why was that a fair test?
Using SMART Notes, begin lesson with slide
1. Begin with the end in mind
2. Mail
3. Types of pillars
4. Make a plan
5. types of pillars (leave up while they are working)
Activity: Shapes of pillars (25-30 minutes)
o Hand out helpers hand out worksheet #5. Read
the testable question together. Have the
students fill in the blanks for the hypothesis.
Share suggestions.

Learning
Objectives
Begin with the
end in mind
Materials

Procedure
Introduction
( mins.)

Body of Lesson
( mins.)

3-8-1 Recognize that functional structures must be sufficiently strong and stable
and that unstable or weak structures are often unsafe to use.

Expectations
participate in
conversation
Settle in

listen quietly so we
can finish the plan
and get to work

ED 3501

Have students record the materials that will be

used for the activity.
o What will make this activity a fair test? Circle
what will change and what will stay the same
o Go over the procedure with the students.
They will be placing a piece of
cardboard on top of the pillar so that the
cardboard and pillar are centered.
Students will then add their mass to the
top of the pillar in the middle until the
pillar can no longer support the mass.
Record the observations on the
worksheet. Then switch pillars and
continue procedure.
o Demonstrate how to fold each type of pillar
ask for a helper to hold the pillar while I tape
(teawork)
o GROUP SONG
CLEAN-UP (5-7 minutes) Jeapordy song
Which shape of pillar supports the most mass? (5-7
minutes)
o Brain storm
o As a class, discuss the conclusion for the
activity. The cylindrical pillar supports the most
mass because the end is a circular shape and
therefore the mass is spread evenly, just like an
arch. Link to arch vs. square lab
o What force was acting on the pillars
o

Closure
( mins.)

Sponge Activity

Review the shapes and how the mass is displaced in the

shapes. Circle has even displacement, triangle is
uneven, and rectangle is uneven.

Create graph (if time)

Video

Everyone should be
participating in
creating and testing
as a group

listen quietly

Resources
Topic C: Testing Materials and Designs Edmonton Public Schools