Objective
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to understand how materials, tools, and equipment are used in design and production to develop solutions.
Materials and Prep
- Various materials such as paper, cardboard, straws, popsicle sticks, tape, glue, scissors, etc.
- Design challenge cards (you can create your own or find printable ones online)
- A safe and clean workspace
Before starting the lesson, make sure to familiarize yourself with the design challenge cards and gather all the necessary materials.
Activities
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Design Challenge: Provide the student with a design challenge card, such as building a bridge using only paper and tape. Encourage them to think creatively and plan their design before starting.
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Building with Tools: Introduce the student to different tools such as scissors and glue. Let them practice using these tools safely while constructing their design.
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Experimenting with Materials: Give the student various materials like straws, popsicle sticks, and cardboard. Allow them to explore how these materials can be used to create different structures or solutions.
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Presentation and Reflection: Once the student has completed their design, have them present their creation and explain how they used the materials, tools, and equipment to develop their solution. Encourage them to reflect on the challenges they faced and what they learned.
Talking Points
- "Designing means coming up with a plan or idea for something you want to create."
- "Materials are things we use to build or make things. They can be soft like paper or hard like cardboard."
- "Tools are objects that help us do different tasks. Scissors can help us cut materials, and glue can help us stick things together."
- "Equipment is special tools or machines that are used for specific purposes. For example, a ruler helps us measure things accurately."
- "When we have a problem to solve, we can use our creativity and the materials, tools, and equipment to come up with a solution."
- "It's important to plan and think about how we can use the materials, tools, and equipment to build or create something."