Cardboard Grabber

Students completed a lab dissection on frogs, learning the different organs and body system of a frog and how their joints work together to make movements. We used the pathways to learning model (which includes Activate and Engage, Explore and Discover, and Organize and Integrate) to facilitate the student’s learning of the science concepts. Students will use prior knowledge from their lab dissection to design, create and build their own cardboard grabber to function and move like a hand.

Students will collaborate with their peers on building a hand. Students will present their model to their classmates and teacher and discuss their thought process and making experience. We will end each day with a reflection activity to allow students to store and organize the information learned and help them think about how their application of these scientific concepts can be used and is relevant to real world situations. Student’s learning is supported by allowing students to learn vicariously from other students and not only depend on the instructors for help.

Challenge: V.P at San Fernando Middle is starving, we need to feed them before they get angry! The school is depending on students to design and build a structure that will feed them and potentially save lives. We don't want to make them angry.

Materials

• Cardboard

• Hot glue guns

• Scissors

• Box cutters

• Straws

• String

Objectives:

Students will implement creativity and imagination in a project based learning environment

Students will have fun in an interactive environment

Students will apply prior knowledge in the building of a structure

Students will construct and design a product by combining Arts, Engineering, and Science

Students will reflect on their work

Assessments:

Physical Structure

Reflection Survey

Sketches

DAY 1

Activate and Engage: Students will recall their lab dissection by journaling.  The journaling will help them draw a sketch for their structure.

• Intro (6Min)

  • Initially, separate students into groups

• Journal and Sketch (30min)

• Journal (10Min) Arts Observe hand

  • Prompt: Think about what makes your hand move; how and what makes your fingers moving? Journal and quick sketch

  • Share with partner, group mates

• Sketch (20min)

  • Talk to partner and together design a hand that would be able to move and pick up items.

• Class Discussions - students will share with the class on their findings

• If have enough time, get started with materials needed, amount ect...

DAY 2

Explore and Discover: Given their sketches in the previous section, students will MAKE their structures.

• MAKE! (30 Min) Science and Engineering

  • Go to makerspace and in group utilize each other’s journals to make the structure. Remember your creativity has no bounds!.

  • Use materials in space to build

  • Re-sketch if needed.

  • Test structure with different items.

Organize and Integrate: Students will use this opportunity to present and reflect on their work.

• Reflection (7Min)

  • 3-2-1

    • What are 3 things you were able to get accomplished today

    • What are two things you still think your structure needs to be finished

    • What is one thing you want to focus on for our next session.

Day 3

Explore and Discover: Given their sketches in the previous section, students will finish making their structures.

• Reflect on previous day, go over sketches and discussions.

• MAKE! (60 Min) Science and Engineering

  • Students will continue creating their structure and putting the finishing touches.

  • Test structure with different items.

Organize and Integrate: Students will use this opportunity to present and reflect on their work.

• Reflection (7Min)

• Ortiz will test out grabbers as students feed him cookies, doritos

  • Gallery Walk (5 min)

  • Presentation

    • Take 2-3 minutes to talk about your structure

  • Reflection Sheets (15 MIN)

*Lunch time- Admin team (Ortiz, Trinidad)  will test out grabbers ( 4-6) in the quad with one grabber per classroom (Per.1,2,5,7), being represented; Per. 6,8 grabbers that finish can participate too.

*Per. 6,8 will test theirs in the classroom; Ortiz will test out all other grabbers in the classroom.