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The Arizona STEM Acceleration Project

Cao Cong Weighs the Elephant - Boat Building Challenge

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For Mandarin Immersion Classrooms

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Cao Cong Weighs the Elephant - Boat Building Challenge

曹聪称象: 造船挑战

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A 5th Grade Mandarin Immersion STEM Lesson

Linyong Yao

7/24/2023

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Notes for Teachers

  • Context: Around two thousand years ago, weighing an elephant without advanced equipment posed a challenging problem. However, a clever solution was devised by a seven-year-old named Cao Cong. He ingeniously proposed using a boat as a medium to determine the weight of the elephant. This remarkable story has been passed down through generations in China, highlighting the brilliance of young minds even in ancient times. Incorporating this historical tale into a STEM challenge, students will be tasked with constructing a robust boat capable of supporting the weight of an elephant-shaped watering can filled with water.

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  • Students may work in pairs.

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  • The elephant watering can could be replaced by other weights such as rocks, a bag of coins, water bottle, etc.

List of Materials

  • Elephant watering can, cardboard, popsicle sticks, plastic bottles, aluminum foil, duct tape, straws, styrofoam, hot glue guns, scissors, a weight scale.

Other Resources:

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Arizona Science Standards

5.P3U2.5 Define problems and design solutions pertaining to force and motion.

5.P3U1.4 Obtain, analyze, and communicate evidence of the effects that balanced and unbalanced forces have on the motion of objects.

Science & Engineering Practices

Developing and Using Models

5.NBT.B.7 Add, subtract, multiply, and divide decimals to hundredths, using concrete models or drawings and strategies based on place value, properties of operations, and/or the relationship between addition and subtraction; relate the strategy to a written method and explain the reasoning used.

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Arizona ELA Standards

5.RL.2 Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details of the text; include how characters in story or drama respond to challenges, how the speaker in a poem reflects upon a topic, and a summary of the text.

5.RL.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative language such as metaphors and similes.

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Arizona Math Standards

Arizona World Language Standards

Interpersonal Communication (IC)

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Intermediate-low

1. Participate in conversations on familiar topics by using simple sentences.

Intermediate-low

2. Carry out short social interactions in everyday situations by asking and answering simple questions.

Interpretive Listening (IL)

Intermediate-low

1. Understand the main idea in short, simple messages, presentations, and overheard conversations on familiar topics.

Interpretive Reading (IR)

Intermediate-low

1. Understand the main idea of short and simple texts when the topic is familiar.

Presentational Speaking (PS)

Intermediate-low

1. Present information on familiar topics by using a series of simple sentences.

Presentational Writing (PW)

Intermediate-low

1. Write and share short messages about familiar topics using a series of simple sentences.

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Objective(s):

  • Students will be able to master the following vocabularies based on the story:
  • Tier 1 (listening, reading, speaking, and writing): 称、象、船、高、重
  • Tier 2 (listening, reading, and speaking): 运、腿、知道、南方
  • Tier 3 (listening and speaking): 墙、官、柱子、秤、聪明

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  • Students will be able to apply the following sentence structures in speaking and writing:
  • Figures of speech - simile ……像…… ……be like ……

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  • Students will be able to retell the story with picture/key words prompts.

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  • Students will be able to multiply decimals with whole numbers.

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  • Students will be able to build a strong boat with their choice of materials using the engineering thinking.

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Agenda (3 days with one hour each day)

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

  • Introduce the new vocabularies before reading
  • Brainstorm: How to weigh an elephant?
  • Read the story 《曹冲称象》
  • Each group decides what materials they are going to use to build the boat with limited “money” to purchase. Model how to multiply decimals.
  • Review the new vocabularies before reading
  • Figures of speech practice - simile by using “像“
  • Build the boat using engineering thinking: Ask, Imagine, Plan, Create, Test, and Improve.

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  • Continue building the boat. When finishing, test whether the boat is strong enough to support the elephant. If it succeeds, fill the elephant with more water to see how far it can go.
  • Make it a competition to see which group’s boat can take more weights. Use a scale to record data.

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Brainstorm: How to weigh an elephant?

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Story: Cao Cong Weighs the Elephant

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Hands-on Activity Instructions

  • STEM challenge: Build a boat strong enough to weigh the elephant watering can filled with water.

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  • Students may work pairs.

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  • Each group has a budget of $200 to buy priced materials.

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  • An Emphasis on the engineering thinking when students are building their product (a bridge): Ask, Imagine, Plan, Create, Test, and Improve.

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Materials needed:

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Consumables Ordering Chart

Materials

Unit price

Quantity

Total cost

cardboard (pieces)

$15.5

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popsicle stick

$1.8

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plastic bottle

$28.6

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aluminum foil

(12 in.)

$ 8.5

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duct tape (12 in.)

$ 7.4

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styrofoam plate

$ 11.9

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straw

$ 1.3

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Overall cost:

  • Each group has a budget of $200
  • Make a plan before you order

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Assessment

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  1. Mandarin:

Retell the story 《曹聪称象》

Make three sentences with the ”像” structure (simile)

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2. STEM challenge: the final product of the boat & self reflection (see notes below)

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3. Math: decimal multiplication

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Differentiation

  • Small reading groups can be provided.

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  • Provide one-on-one assistance as needed during the construction process.

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  • Model how to multiply decimals as needed.

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  • Strategic pairing can be used.

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  • Provide a template or outline to follow for the boat construction.

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Extension/Enrichment

  • How does an elephant get weighed in a zoo nowadays? - Youtube resource
  • Things about elephants - Youtube resource
  • Elephant bookmark craft
  • Students can extend the lesson by creating a FLIP video to capture how they created their boat.

Remediation