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The Arizona STEM Acceleration Project

The Three Little Javelinas,

Adobe Bricks

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The Three Little Javelinas-Adobe bricks

A 3-5 grade STEM lesson

Stephanie Nichols

January 2024

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Notes for teachers

This lesson will take place over 2-3 days as the bricks will need time to cure.

If you would like another STEM lesson using the same book- The Three Little Javelinas, Javelina Deterrents

List of Materials

3 Little Javelina Book or Pdf of the scripted play

The Three Little Javelinas by Susan Lowell, illust. Harris | Read Aloud for Kids | The Reading Booth

THE THREE LITTLE JAVELINAS

Paper or digital devices to sketch designs
mud with high clay content
straw bits
bowls and stirring sticks/spoons
silicone molds
thermometers
cardboard box

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Standards

4.E1U2.10 Define problem(s) and design solution(s) to minimize the effects of natural hazards.

Other Related Standards:

3.P4U1.3 Develop and use models to describe how light and sound waves transfer energy.

3.L2U1.6 Plan and carry out investigations to demonstrate ways plants and animals react to stimuli.

4.P4U1.1 Develop and use a model to demonstrate how a system transfers energy from one object to another even when the objects are not touching.

4.E1U2.10 Define problem(s) and design solution(s) to minimize the effects of natural hazards.

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Objectives:

Students will create adobe bricks and construct a miniature dwelling.

Students will measure temperature inside a control and inside their adobe houses and compare, drawing conclusions about the material and its benefits.

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Agenda

Show beginning of video clip with javelina running at high speed and engage students in a discussion about what they learned about javelinas previously

Read the remainder of the book. What was the best building material used by the javelina? Have you heard of this material?

students will follow a recipe to create adobe style mini bricks in silicone molds
once dry, students will create miniature houses from their bricks
a thermometer will be placed in each dwelling as well as in a plain shoe box
students will place dwellings in home and measure the temperature at set intervals, creating a data chart
students will discuss the benefits and drawbacks of adobe as a building material

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What was the best house-making material in the book?

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Hands-on Activity Instructions

Students will work in small groups
Each group will get a bag of clay soil, straw, a pitcher of water, a large mixing bowl, a stirring tool, and a silicone mold.
Students will follow directions to create adobe bricks in the mold.
Once dry (1-2 days later, depending on weather conditions), students will build miniature dwellings using the adobe bricks.
Students will set the dwellings in a sunny spot and measure the temperature at set intervals.
Students will explain the benefits and drawbacks to using adobe as a building material.

Photo by Rubén García on Unsplash

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Assessment

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no attempt	Student attempts to describe at least 2 benefits and drawbacks of using adobe as a building material, but may have incorrect information or data.	Student accurately describes at least 2 benefits and drawbacks of using adobe as a building material. Data chart is clear and information is reasonable.	Student accurately describes at least 2 benefits and drawbacks of using adobe as a building material. Student thinking is innovative and well thought out. Data chart is extremely precise and/or student analyzed any anomalies.

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Differentiation

Provide pictures on a device or a video recording of the read aloud for students to refer back to

Post important vocabulary

Model expected outcome and provide concrete examples of exemplar work

Remediation

Extension/Enrichment

Research different building materials made out of natural materials

Create a design for a house made of recycled materials

Research mudding windows and compare to the use of adobe

Create and add insulation to the adobe house and run the experiment again