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The Arizona STEM Acceleration Project

Engineering Bridges with Iggy Peck

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Engineering Bridges with Iggy Peck

A 1st Grade STEM Lesson

Christina Morales-Cota

June 2023

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Notes for Teachers

Have a copy of the book Iggy Peck the Architect.

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This lesson can be done over a couple day period.

List of Materials:

  • large sheets of paper or newspaper
  • popsicle sticks
  • colored scrap paper
  • glue
  • rulers
  • paper clips
  • miscellaneous items such as pom poms, pipe cleaners or anything decorative

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Standards

Math:

Describe measurable attributes, such as length width, and weight.

MP.5 Use appropriate tools strategically.

MP.6 Attend to precision.

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Science and Engineering Practices:

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● develop and use models

● use mathematics and computational thinking

● construct explanations and design solutions

● obtain, evaluate, and communicate information

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Physical Science:

1.P3U1.3 Plan and carry out investigations which demonstrate how equal forces can balance objects and how unequal forces can push, pull, or twist objects, making them change their speed, direction, or shape.

Core Ideas for Using Science:

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

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Objective(s):

Students will discuss different ideas for creating a bridge.

Describe in detail how Iggy Peck used engineering to plan and test.

Explain in detail how they created their bridge to the class using proper terms.

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Agenda

Read Iggy Peck Architect (10 min)

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Group discussion (10 min)

Building (20 min)

Showcasing their building and explaining to class (40 min)

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Intro/Driving Question/Opening

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What is an architect?

What are jobs that architects do?

What types of buildings did Iggy make?

What would you like to build?

Watch videos on bridges.

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Hands-on Activity Instructions

  • Have students work in a group to design and build their bridges.
  • This can be done over a few days as well.
  • Have students use items in the classroom to see how well their bridges hold up with weight.
  • Students used cubes, water bottles, tissue boxes, crayons and more.

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Assessment

Walk around and ask students how they came up with the ideas for their bridges? Listen to them explain and ask questions based on their explanations as well as stories.

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Differentiation

Have tape and all supplies opened for students who struggle.

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Buddy partner students who need extra help.

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You can also do this as a group table project.

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Provide key vocabulary with images.

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Provide sentence stems and frames for student explanations.

Remediation

Extension/Enrichment

Compare how different every ones project is, but that we are all working for the same purpose.

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