The Arizona STEM Acceleration Project
Catch the Sun
Catch the Sun
A 3rd grade STEM lesson
Jule Abeytia
1/6/2024
cardboard or cardstock
small mirrors
parchment paper
aluminum foil
zip ties
glue
scissors
pencils
masking tape
paper plates
any misc classroom supplies on hand that would be helpful
Engage Activity: "It's Cool" activity
Explore: Design Sheet_Peer Review
Explain video link: Changing Direction of Light During Plant Growth
Explain Read A Loud: Living Sunlight: How Plants Bring the World to Life
Elaborate: *see design sheet_peer review
Evaluate: Rubric
List of Linked Materials:
List of Needed Materials:
Standards
Arizona Science Standards - 3rd Grade
3.E1U1.4 Construct an explanation describing how the Sun is the primary source of energy impacting Earth systems
● Energy radiated from the Sun is transferred to earth by light. When this light is absorbed, it warms earth's land, air, and water and facilitates plant growth.
● Radiation from the Sun heats the Earth’s surface.
Standards
Arizona Science Standards Science and Engineering Practices for 3-5
Planning and Carrying Out Investigations Scientists and engineers plan and carry out investigations in the field or laboratory, working collaboratively as well as individually.
Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions The goal of science is the construction of theories that provide explanatory accounts of the world. The goal of engineering design is to find a systematic solution to problems that is based on scientific knowledge and models of the material world.
Objective:
Students will be able to apply understanding of the sun’s energy and how heat can change over time to design and build a device to heat plants that fulfills at least 11 out of 15 on an engineering design rubric.
Agenda
Engage activity: ‘It’s Cool’ demonstration activity’
Engage Discussion: What questions did the activity create?
Explore: First design/build of heating device for plants/peer review
Explain: Video “Changing the direction of the light during plant growth - Time lapse”
Book Read-A-Loud: “Living Sunlight-How Plants Bring the Earth to Life”
Elaborate: Make changes to design. Peer consult. Build prototype for presentation.
Evaluate: Present devices to group, Apply rubric to build.
Questions
Engage/Discussion: 20-30 minutes
Explore: 30-45 minutes
Explain: 30 minutes
Elaborate: 30-45 minutes
Evaluate: 30-45 minutes
How can we direct or catch the sun to help plants grow?
Assessment
Students will use rubric to guide design process. Goal is to reach at least 11 out of 15 on the project rubric.
Differentiation
ELL
-give students cloze sentences for activity sheets
-have ELL students paired for group project design with bilingual students
Learning Challenged
-allow dictation of written work on activity sheets
-pair students with challenged abilities with stronger academic students
-break down project into smaller sections for students to make progress
Remediation
Extension/Enrichment
-students may add a paragraph to accompany the device prototype explaining how it fulfills the big idea and the details behind the design
-students can take the same idea and apply it to creating something that directs heat to water