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Notes for Teachers

We want students to understand that everyone (person, animal) needs shelter.

Sunlight warms everything it shines on. Engineers design shelter to block out the sunlight and make shade.

Goal : We want to use the engineering design process to design shelter that provides shade and blocks sunlight.

List of Materials

Cellophane

Foam

Plastic

Aluminum Foil

Construction Paper

Popsicle sticks

Tape

Glue

Scissors

Flashlight

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Standards

Physical Science

1.P2U1.1 Plan and carry out investigations demonstrating the effect of placing objects made with different materials in the path of a beam of light and predict how objects with similar properties will affect the beam of light.

Core Ideas for Using Science

U2: The knowledge produced by science is used in engineering and technologies to solve problems and/or create products.

Science & Engineering Practices

● ask questions and define problems

● develop and use models

● plan and carry out investigations

● analyze and interpret data

● use mathematics and computational thinking

● construct explanations and design solutions

● engage in argument from evidence

● obtain, evaluate, and communicate information

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Objective(s):

Students will generate ways to cool off when feeling too warm in the sunlight.

Students will explore the available materials, size, shape to provide shade/ shelter.

Students will test materials.

Students will build shelter that provides shade by applying knowledge of materials that will be the most effective.

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Agenda (1 hour)

First grab a piece of paper and brainstorm ideas.

Explore the materials. Explore the size and shape of the material that will provide the most shade.

Drawing, cutting, folding, and taping are some ways students can design and engineer a possible solution.

Students must know there is not one right way to solve this problem.

Students will do a gallery walk of all their classmates’ designs and solutions.

Have a group discussion of the ways to make a shady shelter. Have students think creatively. Students will gain inspiration from others.

Acknowledge strengths and weaknesses of students.

Go back and redesign using some of the ideas discussed or new ideas that were presented.

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Intro/Driving Question/Opening

Description:

My friend said a shelter has to be big? What do you think? Show an example of shelter. Shine a light to see if it protects from the sunlight.

Do you think this shelter will keep a person or animal cool?

Will this keep weather out?

How can we change this shelters roof to make more shade?

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Hands-on Activity Instructions

Use your different types of materials and lay them out.

With your group talk about what would make the best shelter.

Lay out

Cellophane

Foam

Plastic

Aluminum Foil

Construction Paper

Popsicle sticks

Shine a light on each one. Which material has the least amount of light shining through. What will provide the most shade? If it gets wet which material will hold up the best? If the wind blew which material holds up the best? Based on what you find out build your shelter and explain why you think this might be the best shelter.

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Assessment

Students can make a video or share orally with the class.

Statements could be similar to:

“Bigger roofs will block sunlight over a bigger area.”

“One piece of paper makes a little shade and adding more paper creates more shade.”

Students should say something like material that you can see through does not make good shade. You want material that is difficult to see through. A material like foil is good shade but cellophane is not a good roof for shelter because you can see through it.

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Differentiation

Consider pre-cutting strips of tape or purchase glue dots to help students with the design and construction portion.

Provide a template or outline of a potential design.

Provide video and/or book resources for students.

Provide key vocabulary with images.

Remediation

Extension/Enrichment

This lesson focuses on the roof for shade. You can take this to the next step and talk about the wall material. Students can be challenged to place insulation between the walls of their structure.

Students can be challenged to come up with other material choices for shade.

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