NGSS Practice - Ask questions, make observations, and gather information about a situation people want to change to define a simple problem that can be solved through the development of a new or improved object or tool.

In this lesson plan, students will be building a marshmallow tower. Each student will be provided toothpicks and marshmallows. The students will be record their process in the booklet which embodies the scientific method. They will be asking questions, making observations, and gathering information on how they want to go about with building the tower. After the first tower, they will have to rethink about their model of what worked and what did not and how to make it better using the given tools.

Grades: K-5

I believe bad failure is when someone who is careless of their decisions and laking of trying. It happens when someone doesn’t know what they are trying to do or how to go about with their ideas. It may be hard in the moment because the student may fear to seek for help. It’s not a bad thing at all to ask for help.

What is good about failure?

A good failure is where we learn from our mistakes. We are testing our thoughts, questions and ideas. A good failure we can receive feedback from others which helps each other out because we can rethink what went wrong and how to make it better. You are determined to work better to achieve your goal. Good failure gives you the opportunity to look back and take responsibility of what went wrong but will help you trust yourself for future decisions. 

How do you address failure in your own life?

With my academics, if I receive a bad grade on an exam or something else, I like to meet with the professor to go over each problem/step. By going through the problems together I can see how my thought process went when taking the exam in the given moment. When reviewing over with the professor I can see the mistakes I did wrong and question what I should have done. Which does teach me for the next time its addressed. The professor isn’t just giving me what the actual answer is but is going over each answer why its wrong or why its right. The spanish class that I am currently taking, the professor allows us to do test corrections on our exams. She told us she wants us to learn from our mistakes!  I thought that was a great idea not only to get some points back but because as I was going over my exam I saw what I did wrong and while looking back at my worksheets I was able to find why it was wrong and which/why it was right. It does have an impact because I can remember it for my homework, exams, and while learning in class. We learn from our mistakes!!

Develop a simple sketch, drawing, or physical model to illustrate how the shape of an object helps it function as needed to solve a given problem. 

(After reading a story, students will build their own dustpans/brooms using the given objects)

No one likes failing at something. Oftentimes, it makes them feel useless or not good enough. However, failure is a part of life, and it isn’t always bad. A lot of times, failure helps a person improve in many ways. Failure is a way to see your mistakes and then fix them. Although no one likes to fail, it is essential because it shows that not everyone is perfect, and mistakes are allowed. When I fail at something in my own life, I use it as a learning experience to be better the next time. I also remind myself that no one is perfect and everyone makes mistakes, and it is just about how you deal with them. 

Generate and compare multiple possible solutions to a problem based on how well each is likely to meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.

Failure can make students feel anxious about learning. I think students can become doubtful about themselves and can lower their confidence. This may be a reason why some students do not participate in class because they are scared to fail. However, I think failure isn’t really a bad thing. I think when the word failure is being mentioned, people automatically assume it is a bad thing. Failure can play a huge roll in the learning process. When something doesn’t work the way it is expected to, it means trying again, coming up with a new plan, and can help when critical thinking. It also creates resilience and problem solving skills. In my own life, failure sometimes discourages me, however, it makes me determined to succeed even more than before. 

“5-ESS2-1. Develop a model using an example to describe ways the geosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and/or atmosphere interact.”

“MS-Ess2-5. Collect data to provide evidence for how the motions and complex interactions of air masses result in changes in weather conditions.”

In short, my lesson will be allowing students to explore the progression and evolution of a cloud while creating a hands-on model of what the cloud process looks like. This lesson is a great way to introduce the weather system, the water cycle, etc.

The downside to failure is the emotional hit that you can take. The feeling of failure is usually a frustrating and discouraging one, especially when it is something you care about or something that has a lot of pressure and/or importance associated with it. When you fail at something, though, you can choose to see that failure in a positive light. The benefit to failure is that a new light is shown on what you still need to work on in order to succeed the next time. Failure shows you your weaknesses, and it also shows you your strengths. As you progress and focus on what you need to improve on for next time, your failure will become the key to your success. Failure is where the most growth happens; mentally, emotionally, and physically. It is important to use failure to your benefit whenever possible. Personally, I choose to see my failures as a strength rather than a weakness. I use my failures as a benefit and as a secret weapon to succeed the next time around. Further, I try to push myself to sit in my failure and discomfort in order to really zone in on what caused me to fail and what I could do next time to succeed.