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Unit Planning Organizer

Subject: Science Grade: 1

G.L.O: 1–3 Construct, with guidance, an object that achieves a given purpose, using materials
that are provided

Unit/Topic: Building Things

Unit Duration: 4 weeks

1. Unit Overview – Critical Inquiry Question

How can we make an object that serves a purpose?

2. Focusing Questions for Lessons (Related questions)

1. What kinds of things can we build? What kind of materials can we use?
2. Building towers. What do Towers do/provide for us?
3. Building a chair. Why are chairs important? How can we build a study chair?
4. Building homes. What is the purpose of a home? What kinds of things does a
home need? How can we make it functional?
5. Building a boat. How do we make a boat float? How much can our boats hold
before sinking?
6. Building a carriage? Can we make something functional that is also sturdy?
7. Building a bridge? Can we build the famous Lethbridge bridge? How can we
make it hold a train?

3. Specific Learning Outcomes for Unit (assessed by culminating task)

Knowledge:

1–7 Construct objects and models of objects, using a variety of different materials.
1–8 Identify the purpose of different components in a personally constructed object or
model, and identify corresponding components in a related object or model.
 Select appropriate materials, such as papers, plastics, woods; and design and build
objects, based on the following kinds of construction tasks:
 Construct model buildings; e.g., homes (human, animal, from other cultures),
garages, schools
 Construct model objects; e.g., furniture, equipment, boats, vehicles Science
(Elementary) B.4 (1996)
 Create wind- and water-related artifacts; e.g., dams, water wheels, boats.
 Identify component parts of personally constructed objects, and describe the
purpose of each part.
 Compare two objects that have been constructed for the same purpose, identify
parts in one object that correspond to parts in another, and identify similarities and
differences between these parts.
 Recognize that products are often developed for specific purposes, and identify
the overall purpose for each model and artifact constructed.
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Attitude:

1–4 Demonstrate positive attitudes for the study of science and for the application of
science in responsible ways.

Skill:

1–3 Construct, with guidance, an object that achieves a given purpose, using materials
that are provided.
 Focus • identify the problem or task: What structure do we need to make?
 Explore and Investigate • attempt, with guidance, one or more strategies to
complete the task • engage in all parts of the task • identify materials used •
recognize and describe steps followed, based on independent activity, on directed
activity and on observing the activity of others
 Reflect and Interpret • describe the product of the activity, using pictures and
oral language • identify processes by which the product was made • identify how
the product might be used.

Lesson #1: What kinds of things can we build? What kind of materials can we use?
Outcomes and Length of Lesson Procedure Materials and Assessment
Objectives Lesson Resources
1-3 65 mins 1: Review- what have Book Formative: worksheet,
1-4 you guys done so far? cooperation at centers
1-7 Center materials
1-8 2: Brainstorm- what
types of things do you Building Things in
think people can build? Fairy Tales booklet

3. Read:

4. Building centers-
Lego, blocks,
cups/straws/household
things

5: Worksheet completion

Lesson #2: Building towers. What do Towers do/provide for us?

Outcomes and Length of Lesson Procedure Materials and Assessment
Objectives Lesson Resources
1-3 65 mins 1: Review- what did we The Man Who Formative- worksheet
1-4 do last class? What did Walked Between
1-7 you guys make? Towers
1-8
2: Introduce towers-
what do we know about
them? What do we want
to know?
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3: Read: The Man Who
Walked Between Towers

4: Activity- cup stacking

tower activity in groups-
who can make the tallest
structure? Who can make
the sturdiest tower?

5: Worksheet

Lesson #3: Building a chair. Why are chairs important? How can we build a study chair?
Outcomes and Length of Lesson Procedure Materials and Assessment
Objectives Lesson Resources
1-3 65 mins 1: Review- what did we Goldilocks and the Formative- worksheets,
1-4 learn about towers? What Three Bears ability to build chair
1-7 parts of building did we
1-8 focus on? Edmonton Public
Schools
2: Read: Goldilocks and
the Three Bears Booklets

3: Discuss- what
materials would be best
for legs/seat?

4: Activity- Building a
chair- provide an
example and explain
materials

5: Worksheet

6: Conclusion- what did

we learn? What worked
and what didn’t?

Lesson #4: Building homes. What is the purpose of a home? What kinds of things does a home
need? How can we make it functional?
Outcomes and Length of Lesson Procedure Materials and Assessment
Objectives Lesson Resources
1-3 65 mins 1: Review- what did we Three Little Pigs Formative- buildings,
1-4 do last class? Introduce worksheets
1-7 building homes Worksheet
1-8
2: Read- The Three Little Building center
Pigs and discuss materials

3: Class discussion on
carpet- what are the parts
of a house? Write them
down on board

4. Worksheet

5: Conclusion- what did

we learn about the parts
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of houses

DAY 2

1: Review- what did we

learn about houses

2: Activity- Centers-
different materials to
build a house

3: Worksheet

4: Compare houses with

someone who made a
house using different
materials- discussion and
worksheet

5: Discussion and
conclusion

Lesson #5: Building a boat. How do we make a boat float? How much can our boats hold before
sinking?
Outcomes and Length of Lesson Procedure Materials and Assessment
Objectives Lesson Resources
1-3 65 mins 1: Review- what do we Book Formative- how many
1-4 know about buildings pennies can the boat
1-7 homes? Introduce boats Activity materials- hold?
1-8 tinfoil, and pennies
2: Read- book about and water
boats fiction picture book

3: Scaffold activity-
making boats with tinfoil

4: Activity- making
boats and seeing how
many pennies they can
hold

5: Conclusion- what
shape held the most
pennies?

Lesson #6: Building a carriage? Can we make something that works and is strong?
Outcomes and Length of Lesson Procedure Materials and Assessment
Objectives Lesson Resources
1-3 65 mins 1: Review Lego, household Formative- worksheet
1-4 materials completion, ability to
1-7 2: Read- Cinderella, talk build a functional
1-8 about the book- mention Worksheets vehicle
she broke her carriage
and we need to help her
make a new one

3: Activity- vehicles with

wheels centers- one with
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Lego, and second with
cardboard and dollar
store materials

4: Worksheet

5: Conclusion- what
worked and what didn’t?

Lesson #7: Building a bridge? Can we build the famous Lethbridge bridge? How can we make it
hold a train?
Outcomes and Length of Lesson Procedure Materials and Assessment
Objectives Lesson Resources
1-3 65 mins 1: Review Billy Goats Gruff Formative-
1-4 participation,
1-7 2: Read Billy Goats Cups, paper, cooperation, ability to
1-8 Gruff- discuss the book popsicle sticks build

3: Activity- build a Summative- work

bridge using cups, paper, booklet completed and
popsicle sticks handed in

4: Can your bridge hold

a toy train?

5: Worksheet

6: Full class together

complete self-evaluation
as teacher reads aloud
each question