April 10, 2017 Jonathan Bacon

Chatham Lesson Plan Format

Type of Lesson: Science Compression and Tension

Grade: 5

Big Idea: Bridge building requires problem-solving strategies and critical thinking while connecting what is
taught in the classroom and real world applications. Sometimes, success in college and career requires
following rules (think of physics laws, Theory of Relativity), conforming to standards, and working as a group.

Essential Question: How can I use practical and theoretical knowledge to solve a problem?

Academic Standards: CCSS 3.4.5.C1 Explain how the design process is a purposeful method of planning
practical solutions to problems.
CCSS 3.4.5.C2 Describe how design, as a dynamic process of steps, can be performed in different sequences
and repeated.

Objective & Activity to Reach Objective: I will be able to determine the difference between compression and
tension and understand that different materials react differently to these types of forces.

Materials:
Science journal
Internet
SMARTboard
String
Cotton Balls

Procedures:
Beginning/opening of Lesson:
Motivational Opening
o Watch a video of the forces acting upon a suspension bridge.
Activation of Prior Knowledge
o Ask students to recall how they saw the bridge from last week was unable to have the forces of
tension and compression in balance and thus collapsed.
Statement to the Students of New Learning That Will Occur
o Today, we will understand the difference between these two forces.

Middle of Lesson: (I DO, WE DO, YOU DO Model)

Direct Instruction (Modeling, etc.)
o Show how tension and compression act upon a bridge when weight is applied.
Use the examples of student created bridges from last week to show the forces.
Reference material learned last week.
o Give student groups two materials: string and cotton balls.
Guided Practice
o Ask students to label the tension and compression on further examples from students work from
last week.
Independent Practice
o Tell student groups to test the two materials to see which material should be used for
compression and which should be used for tension.
E.M. Ashburn
April 10, 2017 Jonathan Bacon
o After students have discovered which material should be used for tension and which material
should be used for compression, ask students to write a paragraph on each material and why they
think the materials should be used for tension and compression.
Closing of Lesson (student summary):
o Review the different types of bridges with the students to review material previously learned.

Evaluation (measurable):
Evaluate the student responses and grade for correctness and evidence supporting their conclusions.

Differentiation:
For students who had trouble learning the concepts:
o Allow students to give verbal feedback on their selection of tension and compression materials.
For the students who require a challenge:
o Ask students to decide where each material should be used on a bridge.

E.M. Ashburn