As part of our "Structures and Mechanisms" strand, students, in pairs or small groups, were given the challenge of building a cube structure, using only plasticine and spaghetti, that could hold at least one science folder. The record was three science folders! Spaghetti & Plasticine Cube ChallengeStudents built bridges, using only straws and masking tape, as part of our current "Structures and Mechanisms" strand that could hold as many water bottles as possible. Each group successfully completed a bridge that held at least one 1 L filled water bottle! Plastic Straw Bridge ChallengeThe Grade 5s, as part of their current Life Systems unit on "Human Organ Systems", designed a board game on one of the following human organ systems: Respiratory System, Musculoskeletal System, Digestive System, Circulatory System, Nervous System. The board games included a path of 50 squares with instructions and at least 40 question and answer cards that were designed to test and educate players about the board game's organ system. We then tested out the board games in class. It was a fun, educational experience!
In our recent trip to the Ontario Science Centre, we watched the IMAX film Dream Big: Engineering Our World in which children created paper towers that withstood as much wind as possible, without sliding or toppling over. We replicated this experiment with the following criteria for our paper tower:
As part of our System in Action Science unit, we have undertaken the Rube Goldberg challenge. Our task: create an overly complicated machine of 6-8 (Group of 3) or 8-10 (Group of 4) steps to drop a marble in a cup from a height of 1 metre. From prior to March Break until this moment, the machines have evolved to take on a life of their own!
Our class of budding engineers had a challenge to design and build a prototype for a robotic arm, using a specified list of materials, that would be able to pick up and move a variety of objects. Everyone was able to successfully transport a Styrofoam cup! |
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