Goodmorning,mynameisKatherine BrandonandIamanassociateprofessorinthe

CollegeofEducation.IteachMedia&TechnologyfortheClassroomaswellas
Content/MethodsforbothECEandElementaryScience.Thispresentationandmaterials
usedcanbefoundonmywebsite.Pickupanorangecard,ifyouwish,forcontact
informationandtheaddressforthewebsite.

Letsstartwithanengineeringactivity.
SinceyouarepreschoolchildrenIwillstartwithastory.Onceuponatimetherewasa
quietpinkbunny. Thisbunnywashappyjusthoppingaround,eatingclover,andtaking
naps.Onedayawolfmovedintothebunnysneighborhood.Thewolfscaredthepink
bunnyverymuchasthebunnyhadplacetogetawayfromthewolfwhothoughtbunny
wouldbeatastylunch.Yourjobistocreateatowerthatbunnycansitonawayfromthe
wolf.
Workinginyourtablegroupsandusingonlythe40cupsand12piecesofconstruction
paperbuildatowerthatwillsurvive whenbunnysitsontop.Beginbyassigningaspeaker,
notetaker,designdrawer,andtester.Thenstartbytalkingabouthowyoucandevelopa
towerthatcanrescuebunnyfromthewolf.Havethenotetakerusethelinedpaperand
takenotes.Thespeakerpickupthepawfirstandsharesoneideaandpassesthepawto
someoneelse.Wheneveryonehashadaturntotalkthespeakerwillgetthepawback.
Thenotetaker willsummarizetheideasandthedesigndrawercanbegintoworkonthe
designwithinputfromthegroup.Oncethedesignisdone thegroupcanbegintobuild
thetower.Rememberitmustholdtheweightofbunnyandbeastallaspossibleand
strong.Youmaynotalterthematerialsinanywayforthischallenge.

Letsfirstunderstandtherelationshipbetweenscienceandengineering.Sciencestudies
thenaturalworldanditsinteractions.Inscienceweexploreconcepts,seehownature
works, identifypatternsanddeveloporproduceknowledge.Thatwhichweknowas
sciencecontentistheknowledgethatwehavedevelopedfromthepastobservations.
Engineeringistheapplicationofsciencetosolveproblemsbydevelopingnewprocessesor
things.Sometimesinyourclassroomyoumaychoosetoonlydesignaproject.Othertimes
youwilldesignandbuildtheproject.Engineeringatitsbestisfindingaproblem,
designing,building,testing,redesigning,andsharing.
Mathisthelanguageofbothengineersandscientistsandtechnologyaretheresultsof
engineering.So,STEMeducationexploressciencecontentusingmathandtechnologyof
thepast,whileengineeringistodevelopsolutionstoproblemsbaseduponsciencecontent
knowledgeandtheuseofpasttechnologytodevelopsomethingneweitherprocessor
things.

Thebestengineeringideascomefromaclassroomquestion fromastudent.Whatisthis
thing?Howdoesitwork?OrThisdoesnotwork,canyouhelpme?Completelystudent
driven.Wewilldothisabitthismorning.
Youasatheteachermayfindaprobleminclassorontheplaygroundandnoteittothe
childrenandthenletthemtrytofindasolutiontotheproblem.Youwouldprovideno
otherinformationotherthantheproblem. Letssayyouareputting awaybooksonashelf
andtheykeepfallingover.Challengethechildrentothinkaboutwaystheymightkeepthe
booksfromfallingdown.Lettheminventasolutiontotheproblem.Or,yourstudentis
carryingacontainerofwateranditspills.Askthemtodesignawaytokeepfromspilling
waterasyoumoveacontainer.
Youasateachermayprovideascenarioandthentaketimetooutlinepossibleconstraints
orcriteria.Wewilldothisinouractivitythismorning.
Manyofyouwillfeelthatyouneedtoplan buildscienceknowledgefirstandthen
provideanengineeringprojectforthestudents.Thisisjustfinetooprovidedyougivethe
studentschoiceindesignandmaterialuse.Iusethe5Emodelofinstructionforthis
format.

Understandthatscience,math, andengineeringareoftenintegratedinthesetypeof
lessons.ThefiveEsallowforsomescienceconceptualdevelopmentandextendingto
applyingthatknowledgetodesignandcreationintheengineeringpartofthelesson.These
lessonsmighttakeseveraldaysofscienceconceptdevelopmentormightjustbeareview
oftheconceptsinsomeactivitybeforetheengineeringpart.Oftenyoumayfindthatyou
caneasilyadaptsomethingyouhavebeendoingtomakeitengineeringbased.
ThismorningIplantosharesomeideasabouthowtodevelopteacherleadideasandgive
youtasteofastudentdriventask.So,letstryoneexamplelessonasifyouareapreschool
orkindergartenclass.

NotethateachofthethingsIpresentcan beadaptedfordifferentage/gradelevels.Nowto
beginthissetoflessonswhichareengineeringbasednotsciencebased.
Again,you areseatedintablegroups Iwouldnotusethislargeagroupforyourchildren.
Pairsortriadsatmostforpreschoolandkindergartenchildren.
Pleasepickonepersontobethespeakeratyourtable andpickanotewriteratyourtable.
Nowthespeakergetsthepawtostartandthenotewriterwilltakethepencilandlined
paper.Speakeryouwillleadthisdiscussion besureeveryonegetsachancetotalkby
passingthepaw.
Discussatyourtablewhataninventionisyouhavethreeminutessharewithclass.
Notewriterusethelinedsheetofpaperatyourtable andthegroupshouldnowmakealist
ofinventionsyouseearoundtheroom.Youmaywriteordrawthislist.Youwillhavefive
minutestodothistask.
Nowasagroupdiscussandrecordonthepaper:Purposeoftheinvention?Whyneeded?
Revisedefinitionofinvention(Somethingpeoplemadetosolveaproblem.)

Readacoupleinventionstories Becky Schroeder(age10)Glosheets&Alexia

Abernathy(age11)NoSpillbowlBothfrom:Girlsthinkofeverything:Storiesof
ingeniousinventionsbywomenbyC.Thimmeah,HoughtonMifflinCo.2000
Sharesomeinventions:postitnotes,zippers,etc.Discusshowtheysolvedproblemsor
improveda solution.

Tablegroups discuss:Whataresomeproblemsyouhaveencountered thatneedsolving?

Keepyourproblemssimplelikeyourshoelacesbecomeuntied.Writermakealist.
Selectanotherpersontodraw.Pickoneproblemideaandgroupdesignasolutiontothe
problem.(ProblemFindingisoneofthemostdifficulttasksforyoungchildren)remember
tousethepawtotaketurnstalking.
Askthegroupstorespondtothequestionsheetquestionsfortheexplainsectionofthe
lesson youwouldnormallydothispartasawholeclassdiscussion.

I haveaneed,Ineedmoregamesforourclassroomsoinyourgroupsyourtaskistodesign
agame wewillactuallyskipthisactivityasitwilltaketimeawayfromthelastactivitybut
rememberIsaidteacherdevisedwithcriteriaandorconstrainsthatiswhatthisactivity
is.Iwouldhaveyourstudentsworkingroups butreviewhowgamesworkbeforeyou
start(Criteria)andprovidethemwithlotsofmaterialssuchaspostitnotes,dice,paper
clips,paper,plasticbags,stickers,andribbons.(Constraints materialsprovided)

Note:IusedanalternativeE
Okbacktobeingastudent:Ihaveprovidedlotsofmaterialssuch asfoamboard,feathers,
paper,plastic,aluminumfoil,fabric,felt,string,yarn,paperplates,paperclips,cardboard
boxes,glue,tape,crayons,pencils,andpaperandnormallywouldletthestudentsexplore
thematerialsbeforeIdothisactivity.
Thinkbacktothelistofproblemsyoudevelopedandworkinginpairsorindividuals
pick/findaproblemthatneedssolving.Drawadesigntosolvetheproblem.Youmust
checkthedesignwithmebeforeyoubeginbuildingyourmodel.Bepreparedtoexplain
yourdesignandwhatproblemyouaretryingtofix.
Userubrictoassessyourstudents.(oreachotherinthiscase)

Letsexploresomeotherideas

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Nowlookattherubriconthebottomofthequestionsheet.Talkabouthowyouwould
evaluatestudentsactivity. Whatmightyouchangeintherubric.Rememberrubricsshould
focusonthekeyconceptofthelesson.Tablediscuss.

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Ifyouhavethemoney,youcantakeengineeringtoanewlevelwithchildren designingon
theiPadorothertouchscreendeviceandthenprintingtoa3Dprinter.Thesehavecome
downalotinpriceandyoucanbuyoneforlessthan$500.Theoneyouseeonthescreen
isthecube theoneyouseestandinghereintheclassroomistheDaVinci 3DPrinter.The
costofprintmaterialdependsupontheprinteryoubuybutfortheDaVinci itismore
dependentuponthecolor.ThecolorsIhaverunabout$30andprintsquiteafewitemsif
youkeeptheprinteratlessdense.(Demonstratetheblokify software)

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Wherecanyougetideas?JoinNSTAandreceiveScience&Children.Lotsofissuesare
addressingengineeringnow.
Surftheinternet museums,websites,Pinterest,lotsofresourcesforideasonline.
Adaptyoursciencelessonsforengineeringactivities.
Butletmesharesomeideas

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Thisisacombinationlessonwithexploreandexplainbeingscience orientedandextend
theengineering.Youwillneeddrysand,tubsforeachpairofchildren,bucketsforwater,
scoops,etc.
Engagethestudentswithpicturesofsandsculptures askhowdidpeoplemakethese?
Samplepicturehere
Explore inthreedays
Firstplaywithdrysand exploreproperties trytobuild
Secondplaywithwater exploreproperties trytobuild
Thirdplaywithbothsandandwater letthemfindthebestmixforbuilding
with emphasizehowmuchofeach
Eachofthedayswrapupwithanexplainsection Whatdiditfeellike,whatdidyoufind
aboutbuildingwiththismaterial,etc.
Extend
Applyknowledgeaboutwaterandsandandbuildatallsandcastle dont
offeranyhelpjustmakeitchallenge
Day2buildthelongesttunnel againdontofferhelpletthemworkon
theirownorinpairs.
Evaluate listenfortheneedtohaveenoughbutnottoomuchwater.Letchildrenexplain
theirmodelstoothersandteachermeasureforcomparisons

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Tobeing thisactivity,bringinabookontallbuildingsorpicturesoftallbuildings.Discuss
whypeoplewanttallbuildings.
Explore providebuildingblocksforchildrentoexplore,besurethereisrealvarietyinthe
blocks.Tellthemtostacktheblocksandseehoweachkindofblockstacksandwhatare
theirdifferences.
Explain askquestionstoassesswhattheylearnedaboutblocks Whatshapesdidyou
seeintheblocks?Whatdidyounoticeaboutblocksthatyoucouldstackwell?Whatdid
younoticeaboutblocksthatdidnotstackwell?
InExtend challengethechildrentobuildthetallesttower besureallchildrenhavethe
sameamountandkindsofblocks.
Evaluate lookforskillsandtheabilitytoexplainwhysometowersstoodtallwhileothers
felldown.
(analternativetoblocksaretousepapercupsandconstructionpaper whichiswhatwe
startedwith)

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Engage
Talkaboutpets whatkinddo youhave howaretheydifferent?
Explore Useanimalcardstosort(fur,wings,fins/flippers,scalyskin,smoothskin)(Read
thebook:Ismyhamsterwild?)
ReadMagicSchoolBusHopsHome onanimalhabitats.Putanimalcardsintohabitats
(arctic,ocean,rainforest,desert) identifythe:food,water,shelter,spacetomove.
Explain askthechildren What isahabitat?Howaretheseanimalsalike?Howarethey
different?How dotheirhabitatsdiffer?Whatdifferenttypesoffooddotheyuse?Howdo
theirsheltersdiffer?
Extend Gooverthetraitsofahamster.Letchildrendrawadesignthataddressesthe
needsofahabitat.Theymayconstructitoryoucanstopatthedesignstage.
Evaluate haveeachchildpresenttheirclassroomhabitatandallcritique canthe
hamsterfindallitneedsinthisenvironment?Food,water,shelter,spacetomove?Canit
escapefromthehabitat?

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Beginthisbysettingupabirdsanctuaryoutsideyourclassroomwindow. Planforfeedfor
manytypesofbirdsanddifferenttypesoffeeders.
Intheexploresection,observebirdsandfeeders whichonesremainedfull whichones
emptiedfirst,howdidthefoodchangeovertime?etc.(Besuretousegogglesandgloves
handingthefeeders) Alternatelyyoucanvisitabirdsanctuarybutitwontbeasrich.
Theexplainsection askthestudentstonoticepatternsinfood,feedertypes,etc.Discuss
thisasawholeclass.Whatfeedertypesworkedwellandprotectedthefood,note
materialsetc.
Theextendsectionthestudentsbeginbydesigningonpaperwhattheythinkagoodfeeder
wouldlooklikeandthematerialsneededforthefeeder.(youcouldapplysomeconstraints
hereinmaterialsorletthemchoose)Youastheteacherwillneedtoroundupthe
suppliesbaseduponthedesignsofeachchild.SomeCriteriaincludearooftoprotectthe
food,placeforbirdstoacquirethefood,aperchforthebirdtosit,andanyothercriteria
youwishtoadd.Thentestthefeedersoutsidetoseehowtheyperform.
Evaluate studentscanexaminetheresultsofa weekofusageoutsideandteacherscan
listenforneedsofbirdsdiscussionandunderstandingaboutmeetingcriteriaand
constraints.

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Thisactuallycouldbethreedifferentactivities.
Tomakethisactivitymorefunforthechildren youcantellthestoryofthebigbadwolf
andthreelittlepigs thenhavethestudentsbuildahousethatthewolfcannotblowdown
puteyesonahairdryerforawolf.Forquakes,tellthestoryofagiantthatdancesand
makespeopleshousesfalldown thenhavethemdesignahousethatwillstanduptoan
earthquake.
Engageinahousewalk askyourstudentsaboutwhatkindsofmaterialsareusedfor
houses,whytheythinkpeopleusedifferentmaterials,whatisahousefor,whatis
necessaryforahousetobeahouse,etc.
Explore providematerialsofallkindsforstudentstoconsiderastheybuildahouse.Let
themtestthematerialswithwind,water,andshakingwithoutbuilding.
Explain ask whatmaterialsheldupagainstwater,whichagainstwind,whatabout
shaking?Whatdoesahouseneedtobeahouse?
Extend havethemworkinpairsanddesignahousewiththeconstraintsofonlyselected
materialsthatmuststayinabudget.
(cardstock$.10,paper$.02,gluecontainer$.10,2oftape$.15,straw$.10,foil$.20,etc.)
Putapriceonitemsandtellthemtheymuststayinabudgetofsay$2.00.
Evaluate

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Testthehousesforthethreetypesofdisasters,seeiftheystayedinbudget(a
graphicorganizercanhelphere),astheyexplainlookforunderstandingaboutboththe
needsofahouseandwhatisneededtopreventdisastersinhousebuilding.

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Enage withreadingofseveralstoriesbeforethelesson:
Veryhungry caterpiller
Verylonelyfirefly
QuietCricket
VeryBusySpider
VeryClumsyClickBeetle
Explore providerealia ormodelsforthestudentstoexplorevariousstagesoflifeand
differencesbetweeninsectsandspiders\
Explain Howdidtheseanimalsdiffer?Whatisthedifferencebetweenaninsectanda
spider?Whatarethedifferentneedsoftheseanimals?Whatmightagoodhabitatforeach
oftheseanimalslooklike?
Extend
Havestudentsbrainstormanddrawadesignofahabitatonpaper,they
mustconsiderwhatkindofrecycledmaterialsmightwork(considersafety noglassor
metal)andlabelthedrawing.Theyneedtoaskyourpermissiontobeginconstruction(your
jobtofindthematerialsorletthemhelpwiththat).
Evaluate Havestudentscomparemodelsandcritique.Iftheanimalsafe?Doesithave
foodandwaterplannedfor?Doesithaveroomtomoveorbuild?Duringthisgroup
discussionassessthestudentunderstandingsastheyeachpresenttheirmodelandtalk
aboutit.

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Engage Forthisengineeringbasedactivityyoucan startwithapileofitemsyoucarry

fromhometoschooleachdayandaskthechildrenhowyoucangetthemtoschool
withoutmessingthemuporlosingthem.Mostchildrenwillarriveatabackpack.
Exploreactivityshouldbechildrenexaminingwithyouabackpack.Lookatthefeature
whereitemsshouldgoetc.CreateaTchartwiththepartstheyseeontheleftsideandthe
purposeofthepartontherightside.
ExplainsectionRead:EngineeringinOurEverydayLivesbyR.Miller,CrabtreePublishing
(2014)afterreadingthebookchangethetitlesoftheTchartfrompart/purposeto
structureandfunction(academiclanguage).
Elaborate talkabouthowengineersalsoimprovethings wealreadyuse.Tellthestudents
youwantthemtothinkaboutimprovementsthatcouldbemadetoabackpack.Makealist
asaclassthenletthechildrenselectoneideaanddrawhowitwouldlookonabackpack.
Evaluateeachstudentsworkbyhavingthemexplaintheirdesigntoyou.

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Considerhostingafamilyengineeringnight lotsofresourcesonline, mostpeopleknowat

leastoneengineersoaskwhowouldcometotalkaboutwhatitisliketobeanengineer,
providechallengesthatrequiresometimeaswellassmallerindividualengineering
activitiesMomorDadcanhelponeonone.But,setsomeparameterssochildrenare
thinkinganddoingandnotjustwatching.

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Pleasefeelfreetocontact mewithanyquestionsorcomments.Besureyouhavethe
orangecard.

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Someofthesewereusedin thispresentation,othersaresimplysuggestionsfor
engineeringactivitiesandresourcesforyoungchildren.Havefunplayingandinventing!
But,usethetermengineerandengineeringwhenyoudotheseactivities.Thankyoufor
yourparticipationandIhopeyoufoundtheinformationhelpful.Blessingswithyournew
schoolyear.

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