Elementary Science and Engineering St. Petersburg, FL

Lukas Hefty – Engineering Magnet Coordinator Debbie O’Hare – 4 th /5 th Grade Teacher Presented By

Who Are We? Pre-K to 5th grade public elementary school with a focus of mathematics and engineering Opened in 2003 in an inner city neighborhood in St. Petersburg, FL 550 students with a full range of programs including ESE: autistic, varying exceptionalities Countywide magnet school No enrollment criteria for students – all ranges and abilities

What Are We Doing? We are writing engineering curriculum for K-5 elementary students that … –is created and implemented by classroom teachers. –is based on state standards, especially science and math. –teaches basic engineering science and design concepts. –spirals from Kindergarten to 5th grade. –integrates throughout all subject areas.

Physical Science Nature of Science and Engineering Interaction Gravitational Force and Resultant Motion Electromagnetic Force and Resultant Motion Life Science Earth Science Space Exploration Life Processes Ecosystems Natural Resources 7 Units of Study

Integrated Units of Study First Grade EngineeringPhysical ScienceEarth ScienceLife Science Nature of Science and Engineering Interaction Gravitational Force and Resultant Motion Electromagnetic Force & Resultant Motion Natural Resources Space Exploration Life Processes Ecosystems Unit Scientists, Inventors, and Engineers John HenryConcept of Waves What are Natural Resources? Weather & Flight Life CyclesPlants in the Environment Science concepts  scientific processes, including observation & tools  teamwork  distinction between scientist, inventor, & engineer  force as a push and pull  simple machines  gravity  scientific probeware  what is a wave  what is light  what is sound  concept of a simple circuit  identification, states of matter  concept of an atom  properties of materials for insulation  weather tools  water cycle  energy from the sun  effects of the sun  wind and its use  life cycles, focusing on plants after a review of animals  basic needs of living things  food chain  plants in the environment  adaptation of plants in the environment  comparison of plant growth & light duration Engineering concepts  Jamerson Design Process  design constraints  concept of work/energy  concept of machines making work easier  Henry Ford & assembly line  waves in force fields  reproduction of a simple circuit using icons  demo of measuring voltage  energy transfer between phases of matter  pressure /lift  engineering of flight  Wright Brothers & early flight  energy cycle  creating optimal conditions for plant growth  energy conversion of plants  changing environmental conditions to optimize plant growth Math concepts  measurement  numbers vs. scalars  distance measurements  length in S.I. system (cm)  elapsed time  wave length measurement  schematic diagram (circuit)  qualitative measure of internal energy  elapsed time  measurement in degrees  count by 2s  elapsed time  height in S.I. system (cm)  measurement plant growth  elapsed time  graphing

Engineering Design Process

Design Challenge Examples Kindergarten Design a ‘just right’ chair for Goldilocks Select materials, diagram, build it, check it, redesign if necessary

Design Challenge Examples First Grade Design a Lego Tower Constraints: -Must be at least 50 cm tall -Must have a color pattern -Must withstand a strong gust of wind (large fan)

Design Challenge Examples Second Grade Marble Drop Machine Constraints: -Must be at least 1 meter tall -Include at least 3 turns -Safe travel from top to bottom

Design Challenge Examples Third Grade Roxaboxen Communities Design a scale model and 3D model Write laws and a constitution

Design Challenge Examples Fourth Grade K’Nex Vehicles Build a vehicle from a blueprint Compare speed on different surfaces and with different masses Design a vehicle to travel exactly 400 cm

Design Challenge Examples Fifth Grade Model Homes Wire a 4-room model home for electricity Include a separate switch and a fan for each room

Overall Goal To stimulate critical thinking and problem solving skills at a high level in all of our students.

Buoyancy - Fourth Grade Gravitational force acting on objects with various surface area integrated with Natural Resources Unit Calculations for volume, surface area, buoyancy Free body diagrams, vectors, loads, redesign for constraints

Calculating Buoyant Force

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