• STEM, Science Technology Engineering Mathematics

  • Kindergarten 

  • Force and Motion Unit (5 weeks)

    "How can we package a pumpkin so it can be shipped safely across the world?"

    • Teams of 3-5 students
    • Packaging materials provided
    • Ask questions, make observations, and gather information  
    • Simulate the packaging process by tossing the students' packages off of an 8 ft. ladder
    • 2 trials

    What is learned? 

    • Promotes further innovation
    • Introduces them to the engineering design process
    • Solve real world problems

  • Weather Unit (4 weeks)

    "How can we build a sustainable arctic shelter for a snow monster?" 

    • Texts and activities to understand weather patterns
    • Snow monster needs to survive rising temperatures
    • Create a shelter not to exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit 
    • 2 trials

    What is learned? 

    • Weather conditions
    • Seasons
    • How sunlight effects temperatures
    • Heat displacement

  • Grade Links
  •  
    Aligned Standards
     
    Force and Motion
       ELA
    • K-RL-3: With prompting and support, identify characters, settings, and major events in a story.
    • K-RL-7: With prompting and support, describe the relationship between illustrations and the text in which they appear.
    • K-RL-9: With prompting and support, identify basic similarities in and differences between two texts on the same topic (e.g., in illustrations, descriptions, or procedures) 
       Science 
    • K-PS2-1: Plan and conduct an investigation to compare the effects of different strengths or different directions of pushes and pulls on the motion of an object.
    • K-PS2-2: Analyze data to determine if a design solution works as intended to change the speed or direction of an object.
    • 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. 
     
    Weather 
       ELA
    • K-RI-2: With Prompting and support, identify the main topic and retell key details of a text.
    • K-RI-3: With prompting and support, describe the connection between two individual, events, ideas, or pieces of information in a text.
    • K-RI-4: With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about unknown words in a text.
    • K-RI-8: With prompting and support, identify the reasons an author gives to support points in a text.
    • K-RL-10: Actively engage in group reading activities with purpose and understanding.
    • K-W-2: Write informative/explanatory texts in which they introduce a topic, use facts and definitions to develop points, and provide a concluding statement or section.
       Science
    • 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.
    • K-PS3-1: Make observations to determine the effect of sunlight on Earth’s surface.
    • K-PS3-2: Use tools and materials to design and build a structure that will reduce the warming effect of sunlight on an area.