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The Arizona STEM Acceleration Project

Watch Out!

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Watch Out!!!

A 7th/8th grade STEM lesson

M. DeMuro

July 2023

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Notes for teachers

Use whatever materials you have on hand that could possibly absorb water and some that won’t but can be used as building materials

You’ll need a box or something to act as the building being protected. It should fit into whatever container you are providing the students to build inside of.

List of Materials

Cotton Balls
Insulation from Meal Kits
Magazine/Catalog Pages
Masking Tape (limited availability)
Popsicle Sticks
Newspaper
Styrofoam Scraps
Straws
Small Boxes, one per group
Plastic Shoe Box

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Standards

Science

7.E1U1.5 Construct a model that shows the cycling of matter and flow of energy in the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere.

Standards

Engineering Standard 2.0

Create engineering solutions by applying a structured problem-solving/decision making process

2.1 Identify the problem

2.3 Explore possible issues or options to the problem

2.4 Select the best solution within the constraints and criteria

2.5 Develop a prototype or model to test the selected solution

2.6 Implement the solution

2.7 Evaluate the solution, and revise or repeat if necessary

2.8 Document and report all results

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Objective(s):

Using only the available materials your group needs to build a flood barrier to keep your home safe. The quality of your barrier will be tested when two cups of water are dumped into the shoe box and checked after 10 seconds. The goal is to have no water cross the barrier and enter your home.

Constraints:

Your barrier may not touch or be taller than your house. You may test your materials as you building but you may not test your completed barrier.

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Agenda (lesson time)

Day 1: Introduce the challenge, show examples of flooding and talk about the consequences that can happen, explain available materials and talk about how each might work to absorb and hold back water

Days 2 and 3: Students design and build flood barriers

Day 4: Test flood barriers and complete assessment

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Intro/Driving Question/Opening

It’s monsoon season and the rains keep coming flooding the area around your house. The only way you can keep your house safe is by building a flood barrier to keep the water away.

**Showing video of flash floods can pique interest in students. There are plenty of videos on YouTube. Choose one that is appropriate for your students and their prior knowledge.***

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Hands-on Activity Instructions

This can be done in groups of 2-4 students depending upon the amount of materials you have available to you.
Limit the amount of masking tape groups may use or they will cover everything in tape.
3”x 3” craft boxes from Michaels fit nicely into plastic shoe boxes to act as houses. It can be helpful to secure the house to the shoe box so it doesn’t float away.

Using only the available materials, your group needs to build a flood barrier to keep your home safe. The quality of your barrier will be tested when two cups of water are dumped into the shoe box and checked after 10 seconds. The goal is to have no water cross the barrier and enter your home.

Constraints:

Your barrier may not touch or be taller than your house. You may test your materials as you building but you may not test your completed barrier.

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Assessment

Assessment should be completed independently.

Informal assessment should be conducted during the design and building processes to gauge for understanding.

After the test, students should analyze and reflect upon what happened. Use the questions on the next slides for assessment.

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Final Evaluation for _____________________________________________

List the materials your group tested and what happened.

Material Result

_______________________ ____________________________________________________________________________

2. What materials did your group use and why?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Final Evaluation for _____________________________________________

3. Explain what happened when your flood barrier was tested?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. How did you positively contribute to your group?�� ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. How did you negatively contribute to your group?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Differentiation

Students who need additional assistance can be provided with fewer materials to reduce the number of decisions made.

Remediation

Extension/Enrichment

Provide students with a limit on the number of types of materials they can use (ie. 3 instead of unlimited)

Adjust the speed at which the water is dropped so it falls faster and materials have less time to soak up the water.