Lesson
Plan (5th grade, can be adapted up to 8th grade level):
Teacher Preparation-
Download
and print Teacher H/O,
make 1 copy per group.
Bookmark websites
for students to use throughout the project.
Make a folder
for each company (put the lego box number on the folder) with Teacher H/O,
10 copies of floor plan layout sheet, paper for daily log, and 3 copies of
Appendix II in the Teacher H/O. Also, you will need to make overheads of these
to explain and model the procedure.
Also, you will
need to make copies of Appendix III & IV for the K'Nex building later
on in the week.
Day 1 (1, 45 minute
period)-
The university
introduces the project with a power point presentation, giving background
information on earthquakes, and brings the construction materials.
Have students
rank strengths or favorites (Math, English, Art, and Fine Motor Skills or
Crafts) in order to determine a heterogeneous grouping. Divide class into
groups, making sure to evenly distribute strengths among "companies."
Day 2-4 (3, 45
minute periods)-
Announce groups
and explain role responsibilities. Then, have them determine which student
will assume each role (students will share responsibilities within a limited
range, i.e. the architect can have another student draw one of the floors)
and decide on a company name. Methods for breaking a deadlock: coin flipping
or picking numbers.
Roles- 1.) Architect--responsible
for drawing plans on dot paper. 2.) Engineer--works with architect and builder
to design earthquake proof building. 3.) Building Owner--responsible for completing
floor rent page. 4.) Builder--constructs lego building with help from group.
*Each day one of these roles will also be the recorder for the daily log.
Groups begin
planning. They should be able to complete 5-10 floor plans.
The following
day, at least 10 more floors should be planned.By Day 3, all floors should
be completed (at least 30).
Day 5-8 (4, 45
minute periods)-
Groups get their
lego bag only after all plans are completed. Students begin building and calculate
floor rent as they go. Using a mouse pad, students can try shaking their buildings
to test its ability to withstand shaking. Any changes in design go on the
Revised side of the floor plan layout sheet.
Day 9-11 (3, 45
minute periods)-
Choose a representative
from each group (vote or draw straws) to be a member of the K'Nex Consortium.
The K'Nex Consortium
does not actually have to write out a floor plan, but the rent must be calculated
as they go.
While the Consortium
is building, Lego groups proof their log, design a company logo, and make
a sign for the building. If they finish these tasks, they can research earthquake
preparedness and include their findings in their daily log, i.e. what would
they do if they lived in an earthquake zone and what would they put in an
earthquake kit. They can also construct individual maps of earthquake magnitudes
(color coded) and their location. This can be done by region, U.S., or global
using http://earthquake.usgs.gov/activity/index.html. An additional activity
would be using the web to research historical earthquakes.
An impartial
group of judges (other teachers/faculty) vote on the landmark building to
be announced on Day 11.
Day 12-Quake Day
The university
comes in with the Shaker Table, and students give a 2-3 minute presentation
on their Lego building, including the total rent. Buildings are then tested
4 at a time to see which one can survive the longest. Buildings that fail
must give back part of their rent. The winners from each group go into a "Shake-Off."
The K'Nex group
then gives a brief report on structural decisions and their building is tested.
The university
presents Part II of the power point presentation, which focuses on the techniques
of earthquake engineering and how they apply to the Lego and K'Nex models.
Day
13-Project Conclusion
Students
write their results from Quake Day and can research how they could have
improved their structures using Bookmarked links.
A final report
is written by each group.
**For
a copy of this lesson plan in text format, right click here
and save as.**
Resources:
Websites:
1.)
Earthquakes
Near
Real Time Earthquake (for daily tracking of global earthquakes)