Suggested Time:
55 minutes
Grade Level:
Kindergarten, First Grade, Second Grade
Overview:
One of the most anticipated days in the life of a child is Halloween! Kids wait all year for the one night to fill their bags with candy. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing guidelines, some communities cancelled Halloween. Students will brainstorm ways for adults to pass out candy so kids can go trick-or-treating while still maintaining a social distance of six feet.
NGSS Standards:
- K-2-ETS1-1 Ask questions, make observations, and gather information about a situation people want to change, to define a simple problem that can be solved through the development of a new or improved object or tool.
- K-2-ETS1-2 Develop a simple sketch, drawing, or physical model to illustrate how the shape of an object helps it function as needed to solve a given problem.
- K-2-ETS1-3 Analyze data from tests of two objects designed to solve the same problem to compare the strengths and weaknesses of how each performs.
Objectives:
Students will use the engineering design process to:
Brainstorm ways to deliver a piece of candy a distance of 6 feet
Sketch a drawing of their plan
Use materials to create a prototype
Perform a test
Record data
Share their solution with the class
Vocabulary:
ramp, incline, push, pull, pulley, simple machine, measure, angle, build, design, test
Suggested Materials:
- paper towel tubes
- tape
- string
- spools
- Legos
- wheels
- popsicle sticks
- straws
- pipe cleaners
- cardboard
- small toy cars
- small pieces of Halloween candy
The Lesson:
- Students will gather in groups of 3-4 and use creativity to brainstorm ideas. They will make a simple sketch of their plan. (See Halloween Transporter Design.docx)
- Students will gather their materials.
- Students will collaborate to construct their device. (There are many possible solutions. Possible ideas: use something to push the candy 6 feet to a trick-or-treater, build a chute or ramp to send the candy, use a pulley system with string)
- Students will perform tests to see if their device works correctly. Measure how far the candy went. Problem solve ways to make improvements. Does the angle of the device make a difference?
- Students will record their results. (See Halloween Transporter Results.docx)
- Students will share their project with the class.
- The class will determine which projects would be the most useful.