Kindergarten STEM Long Range Plan: Submersibles

Week

Lesson
April 28
th
- May 2
nd
(Friday is May Day)

Preparation Lesson Important to
teach before lesson one.

Objective: We will explore the terms
engineer and technology in order to
explain what these terms mean.
Prep Lesson: Technology in a bag! Engineering is Elementary
Resource.
Materials: Use items such as glue, hairbrush, pencil, eraser,
marker, etc. Provide enough items so that each group of
students will have one to explore.
Engagement: What is an engineer? What is Technology?
Engage students in a discussion to determine what they know
about these terms. Record students responses or discuss.
Explain: Explain to students that you have a house of
technology and use an example of a shoe to engage students
in a conversation as to how a show is an example of
technology.
Explain to students that they will explore what those terms are
today by exploring items found in the mystery bags given to
them.
Students then observe the item in their mystery bag and
discuss with their group what the item is used for and what the
item is made of.
Explain: After students have had an opportunity to explore
their item students will share within whole group some of the
items explored so that students can compare their item to the
others explored. Explain by returning to the definition of
technology and engineer and have students explain their new
learning in the explanation.
Explore: Students will then record in their Interactive Science
Notebook the item they explored by identifying what it is, how
it is used, draw a picture of the item and explain the items
other properties.
Explain: Summarize the learning to reinforce the terms of
technology and engineer so that students will be prepared to
be engineers and create technology in the following lessons.
May 5
th
- May 9
th

What do we know about the ocean?
What is the job of an Ocean Engineer?
How can we explain the concepts of
float and sink?
Lesson 1, Day 1 (*Suggested to be over 2 days.)
Day 1: Engagement: building background knowledge about
Greece and the ocean.
Before reading Review Engineer and Technology through
turn and talk. Prepare students for Despina Makes a Splash by
having students share their knowledge about the ocean.
Engage: Have students explain what they know about the
characteristics of an ocean. Use chart paper or flipchart to list
students knowledge.
Explain: Show students map of Greece and explain that the
story Despina Makes a Splash has the setting of Greece. Have
students show where they live on the map and compare to
where Greece is located.
Explain to students that they will read an Ocean Engineering
Story. Have students Think, pair, share what they know about
an Ocean Engineer help them connect to what an engineer
does. An ocean engineer solves problems in the ocean.
Begin reading Despina Makes a Splash (online version).
Explore: Ask students questions about the main characters,
problem (Despina in a wheelchair what do they know about
wheelchairs.) Problem: loses the goggles in the ocean and
wants to retrieve them, but cant.) Show students a pair of real
goggles if you can.) After reading page 4 discuss the line
some of the trash floats and some of the trash sinks. Ask why
they think the goggles sunk? Explain that we will be reviewing
sink and float again today.

Talk about the concept of sink or float to connect to the
problem in the story.

Explore: Have students review sink and float by making
predictions about items they think will sink or float and then
having them explore these items. This will then prepare them
for part two of the lesson which is exploring density.

Lesson 1, Day 2
Explore: Review story elements of Despina Makes a Splash
book by reviewing the problem in the story.

May 12
th
- May 16
th
Lesson 2
May 19
th
- May 23
rd
Lesson 3, Part 1
May 26
th
- May 30
th
Lesson 3, Part 2
June 2
nd
- June 6
th
(Friday is Sports Day) Lesson 4, Part 1
Lesson 4, Part 2
*If needed: June 9
th
- June 13
th
*Can use the very beginning of this week to finish Lesson 4 if
needed.

Follow the lessons in the Taking the Plunge Designing Submersibles binder. Edit as needed to fit the needs of
your class and the time constraints. Parts of these lessons could also be part of a small group during Center Time
if needed.