Building and Testing Materials and Designs Lesson Plan (1)

Lesson
Title/Focus

Introduction to Building and Testing with

a Variety of Materials and Designs

Date

November 14, 2014

Subject/Gra
de Level

Grade Three: Science

Time
Duratio
n

60 minutes

Unit

Unit B and C: Building with a Variety of

Materials and Testing Materials and Designs (1)

Teacher

Deanna Plested

OUTCOMES FROM ALBERTA PROGRAM OF STUDIES

General
Learning
Outcomes:

Specific
Learning
Outcomes:

3-1 Investigate the nature of things, demonstrating purposeful action that leads to
observations and inferences
3-4 Demonstrate positive attitudes for the study of science and for the application of
science in responsible ways
3-8 Evaluate the suitability of different materials and designs for their use in a building
task
3-1
Ask questions that lead to exploration and investigation
3-4 Students will show growth in acquiring and applying the following traits:
Curiosity
Inventiveness and willingness to consider new ideas
3-8
Recognize that functional structures must be sufficiently strong and stable and that
unstable or weak structures are often unsafe to use.
Describe the distinctive properties of some common solids, such as wood, paper or
plastic, that make them suitable for use as building materials

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Students will:
1. Examine the nature of objects leading to observation and inference.
2. Students will investigate with curiosity and inventiveness by asking questions.
3. Students will identify the functionality of weak and strong structures.
4. Students will examine the properties of some common solids pertaining to building materials.

ASSESSMENTS
Observations:

Key Questions:

Products/Performan
ces:

Ensure that the students understand what a weak vs strong structure is.
(3-8)
Ensure that students have time to ask questions. (3-1)
Ensure that students know some common building materials and a few
properties. (3-8)
Do students understand the properties of weak vs strong structures? (3-1,
3-8)
Are students asking questions and showing willingness to learn and
consider new ideas? (3-1, 3-4)
Can students describe distinctive properties of solids pertaining to
building? (3-8)
Question and Answer

LEARNING RESOURCES CONSULTED

http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/coac/movieL
auncher.html?movie=smil/structuresman.mp4
(user: lps24 pass: 4095)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minecraft

MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT

Computer/Internet/Overhead Projector

PROCEDURE
Prior to lesson
Attention Grabber

Ensure that video is ready to play and loaded properly. Have all
materials and ensure content is well understood.
Introduction
Time
Ask: How many of you play the game Minecraft? What do
5-15

Assessment of
Prior Knowledge
Expectations for
Learning and
Behaviour
Advance
Organizer/Agenda
Transition to Body
Learning Activity
#1
Teacher Notes:
Assessments/
Differentiation

Learning Activity
#2
Teacher Notes:
Assessments/
Differentiation

you do in Minecraft? What kinds of things can you make in

Minecraft?
See if students can link Minecraft to Building and Testing
Materials
Students may get excited when speaking about Minecraft but
they should remain in their seats and raise their hands when
answering or asking a question.
1. Ask students about Minecraft
2. Relate this to testing and building materials
3. Watch video Structures: Man-made and Found in Nature
4. Discuss what was learned in the video
Ask: What do you think that Minecraft has to do with what we
will be learning today?
Body
Ask students about Minecraft

Relate Minecraft to testing and building materials

Time
5-10
minutes

10-15
minutes

Ask: What do you think that Minecraft has to do with what we

will be learning today? Depending on the answer, state:
Today we will be starting our units on building and testing
structures using a variety of materials. Once you have stated
this, ask again So what does this unit have to do with
Minecraft?
Watch video Structures: Man-made and Found in Nature

Teacher Notes:
Assessments/
Differentiation

http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/coac/movieLauncher.html?
movie=smil/structuresman.mp4 (user: lps24 pass: 4095) Watch
until about 20:15

Learning Activity
#4

Discuss what was learned in the video

Consolidation of
Learning:

60
minutes

Ask: How many of you play the game Minecraft? What do

you do in Minecraft? What kinds of things can you make in
Minecraft? Are there limits to what you can do in Minecraft?
Please allow at least 10-15 after asking a question for
students to formulate answers
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minecraft (use to become more
familiar with Minecraft)

Learning Activity
#3

Teacher Notes:
Assessments/Differentia
tion

minutes

At the end of the video randomly group students into four

groups of five. Number students off 1-4 until there are no
students left. Have the students discuss what the learned in
the video for 5-7 minutes. After this time, have each group tell
you at least one thing that they learned from the video. Each
group has to say something different.
Closure
Ask: How many of you play the game Minecraft? What do
you do in Minecraft? What kinds of things can you make in
Minecraft? (Learning activity 1)
Ask: What do you think that Minecraft has to do with what we
will be learning today? Depending on the answer, state:
Today we will be starting our units on building and testing
structures using a variety of materials. Once you have stated
this, ask again So what does this unit have to do with
Minecraft? (Learning activity 2)

Approx. 20
minutes
10-15
minutes

Time

Feedback From
Students:
Feedback To
Students

Transition To Next
Lesson
Sponge
Activity/Activities

Have the students return to their desks and wait quietly for the
next lesson to begin.

1-3
minutes

Reflections from the

lesson