Comparing Mass

EDU626-Spring 2018
Process-Oriented Science Inquiry Lesson Plan
Mackenzie Reisnaur
1. Age level: ​1st/2nd grade

2. Scientific processes addressed: ​Observing, Experimenting, Communicating

3. Content-oriented objective: ​Objects have similar and different characteristics causing

them to react differently to outside elements.

4. What do I want children to discover: ​Objects may look the same (size, shape, color,

etc.), but will have different impacts when used to build

5. Standards Applied

○ 1.1 Observe, describe, draw, and sort objects as a way of isolating and

categorizing some of their properties.

○ 2.3 Demonstrate the ability to work with a team, but still reach and communicate

one’s own conclusions about findings.

6. Materials needed:

○ The Three Little Pigs ​book (various authors)

○ Straw, Sticks, and Bricks

○ Rocks, bricks, marbles, shells, straw, grass, twigs, popsicle sticks, toothpicks,

cardboard, paper, craft tissue paper, etc.

○ Technology will not be included in this lesson, as this lesson has hands-on

activities that will support the students learning.

7. Description of activities:
○ BEFORE: (ENGAGE)

■ Read ​The Three Little Pigs​ book together. Show each material as it is read

(straw, sticks and bricks) and let the students pass around each material,

one at a time. Ask the students to describe how it feels, soft/hard,

heavy/light, flexible, etc. Ask students if they think it is light enough to be

blown away, and then attempt to blow each material. Ask the students

what their houses are made of at home and what kinds of buildings they

see around the neighborhood. Ask if they know what kind of material the

school building is made of.

■ They will be asked to construct a house/building with what they think

would be the best material and then explain why they think it would be the

best material to build with.

○ DURING (EXPLORE + EXPLAIN)

■ Students will partner up and will have various materials to build one house

with. They can use other materials to help build their house, such as

cardboard, pipe cleaners, craft tissue paper, popsicle sticks, etc. Whatever

material they decide, it must stay in that classification. Ex: Bricks house-

bricks, rocks, shells, marbles, etc. Straw house-straw, grass, paper,

cardboard etc. Sticks- tree sticks, popsicle sticks, toothpicks, etc.

■ They will work together to build their house. When time is up, we will

observe the various houses and the students will have the opportunity to
 explain why they used the specific materials to build their house and then

they will blow on their house to see if it stays assembled.

○ AFTER (EXPLAIN)- Further discussion

■ Which constructs stayed up? Which ones did not? Why? What will you do

next time to make your house stay up?

8. How learners will be encouraged to investigate on their own in the classroom

(EXTEND)

○ There will be a Discovery Table with all of the materials discussed in the book, as

well as other materials of the same classifications. Magnifying classes will be at

this table, as well as scales for the students to compare the weight of the materials.

9. Expected conclusions:

○ Different materials are used for various and specific reasons. Depending on the

situation, some materials would be better to use than other materials.

10. Applications to real-life situations:

○ People use various materials for different purposes.

11. Assessment (EVALUATION)

○ Anecdotal records for each student based on their observations and inferences

about the materials being used.

Uses tools (magnifying Describes materials Uses materials of Makes a hypothesis Asks questions/makes
glass, hands, scale) for using classifiers the same about the materials comments about the
scientific processes. and/or adjectives classification they are using to materials being
construct a discussed
house/building
Student 1
Student 2

Student 3

12. Family/Home Connection:

○ Find materials in or around your home that fit into these classifications. Bring

them to school or build with them at home!

○ Have students draw pictures of their homes to bring to school and share about the

materials used.