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For this activity students had been working on a unit which was all about natural disasters. Besides this activity, students also created their own power point on a selected natural disaster. We never learned about tornados before this. For this activity we read the last story in our unit which was about tornados and the students were given the engineering activity to build a structure in which they believed could withstand a simulated tornado (a strong gust of wind). Students used a variety of methods to test their shelters which included using books to try to simulate a strong wind and also fans.

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This activity was used as an introduction activity to science. First I had my students at my placement listen to a read aloud of the story, "What is Science?" by Rebecca Kai Dotlich and then students were led in adding to a circle map titled, "Science". Each student had an opportunity to share what they thought science was. Students shared their best ideas, and as a closing to our activity students drew a picture of what they thought a scientist looked like. Below is documentation of their initial ideas of what they believed a scientist looked like.

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STREAM flyer

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More than just science! A comprehensive science program includes technology, literacy, engineering, math and even art!

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Light Red Ideas Conference Business Poster (1)

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Based on constructivist theory, the 5E Inquiry-Based Instructional Model serves as guide during the design of STEM instruction.

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I connected our fairytale read with an engineering lesson that went perfectly with the second grade curriculums timeline. Students were on track to read the Three Billy Goats Gruff. After we completed a few different activities with the story, we started a Bridge project. The students and I made a circle map of different tools/materials they may at home to use for this project. They gathered these materials up and the next day we spent time working on all of our bridges together. It was a very fun project. Check out the results!

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These are the pictures that students drew the very first time we talked about scientists. Most drew a man holding a test tube and "lava" coming out of it. This discussion was a very fun one to have.

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We didn't have time to incorporate an additional book into our already jam packed schedule, so modifications were made to incorporate an engineering lesson into our schedule. While we were already reading a story on Wild Weather to complete a natural phenomenon lesson, we lengthened the lesson to be done over a period of a week. After reading the book, students created a structure that could withstand a tornado! Before we started, students designed their shelter by sketching out how they would use their materials and were given opportunities to change their design. Once they were happy with their design, we built our shelters and tested them out to see if they could stay standing! On our last day, we reflected on our shelters and students wrote about what they learned, talked about their shelter, and whether it was sturdy enough to withstand their "tornado."

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Students engaged in our first discussion of scientists by drawing a picture of a scientist. To my surprise, students did not draw the stereotypical old, male with wild hair. There were actually quite a female scientists! However, the lab coat and test tube we a very common trend seen throughout students depictions of a scientist.

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Through a collaborative, state-led process, new K-12 science standards have been developed that are rich in both content and practice, and arranged in a coherent manner across disciplines and grades to provide all students an internationally benchmarked science education.