a) Students will need to first ASK what real world problems exist in the world/community and what the constraints are.
(They will accomplish this by conducting research using
Newsela. Students will read articles on
Newsela and answer critical thinking questions related to their articles (for a grade) in order to gain a better understanding of the real world problems that exist. They will also use the teacher's padlet to access links regarding more of today's real world problems.)
b) Students will brainstorm with their groups as to what solutions (inventions/innovations) there are and they will select the best solution. While developing their prototype (using junior engineering software such as Tinkercad), students will research other potentially similar products on the market (competitors) and see how they can be more competitive. (All research will be conducted using laptops and all notes must be input into specific online folders. This must be done per student.)
c) Students will plan their invention/innovation by drawing a diagram (first using plain white paper and then, by using Tinkercad, etc.). Students will also be inputting their research/notes onto some form of presentation software (
E-maze,
Google Slides,
Prezi)
d) Students will continue drawing project and inputting research into presentation software. As soon as their work is done, they will test it out.
e) Based on their "tests", students will discuss what can work better and repeat all 5 steps as needed.
2. 20 min: Students will divide into their teams and work on finding real world problems. (Students will follow step a, above.)
Assessment: Ongoing monitoring by teacher.
Lesson 4:
1. 50 min: Students will divide into their teams and work on finding real world problems.
Students will conduct research on real world problems by reading 3
Newsela articles and answering the corresponding quiz questions (for a classwork grade).
Students will then conduct more research by visiting teachers' online Padlet for more resources.
Assessment: Ongoing monitoring by teacher.
Lesson 5:
1. 50 min: Students will begin brainstorming possible solutions to real world problems. Students will do this by following the engineering design proess. (See figure above.)
2. Students will use engineering software programs (example: Tinkercad) to draw their prototypes.
3. Students will get critiqued by teacher and will correct/revise their work, as needed.
Assessment: Ongoing monitoring by teacher. Students' Art/Prototype submissions