Title SlideSpaghetti Tower

Challenge

– Free Preview

Buddy Up!

A collaborative STEAM lesson for lower elementary and

upper elementary buddy classes

Created for you by:

*This file is the free preview of my full lesson. Due to file size restrictions, I could not include all the pages that my typical lessons include. However, if you like this lesson and want to purchase the rest of the lesson, it is available for a much reduced price in my store. The full version includes additional pages – such as: projectable Engineering Design Process, projectable data collection page, lower elementary write the room cards and recording sheet, upper elementary word wall/science journal cards, as well as science journal prompts for both age levels.

* This activity was designed to be used any time during the year. It makes a great “emergency” STEAM activity to keep in yourcupboard (Note: you may want to put the marshmallows in a hard plastic container if you have small rodents like we do in the winter!)

*If you are following my year long plan, and are not going to do the computer coding, this activity could be used in January instead.

* This activity is designed to take about a half hour. You could extend the activity by having them do the activity in one half hour setting, and then giving them the same materials the following week and see if they can improve upon their design.

*Before you begin, you will want to refamiliarize with the Engineering Design Process, and remind them that the younger buddy is just as much a part of the process as the older buddy.

*You can use any measuring tool that you would like to for this activity. This would be a great time to practice some of your non-standard units of measure. The projectable data table is provided in inches for you.

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Notes to Teacher:

The student pages are designed to be mainly filled out by the older buddy. I did include dotted title words, so that the younger buddy could practice tracing the letters, and hopefully connecting these words to the engineering design process. Younger buddies could also be encouraged to do the diagram drawing.

As I know you are, I am always striving to bring the very best for my students. I know you have choices; I appreciate your purchase, and I feel that I have put together a unit that will connect many subjects together and help you integrate STEAM seamlessly into your classroom. If you have questions, concerns or suggestions regarding this resource, please do not hesitate to contact me, and I will do my best to make improvements!

As always, if you have any questions, comments, or requests for additional activities, feel free to contact me at TeachingFullSTEAMAhead@gmail.com

Material List:

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4 boxes of standard spaghetti (Each

buddy team will get 25 pieces of pasta)

3 bags of mini marshmallows (Each

buddy team will get 1 8oz. cup)

8 oz. plastic cups (1 per buddy team)

Measuring device(s) of your choice

Spaghetti Tower Challenge

Spaghetti Tower Challenge

©Teaching Full STEAM Ahead

Problem:

Using the Engineering Design process, create the tallest tower possible with the materials given.

o 25 pieces of spaghettio One 8oz. Cup of mini marshmallowso (Your cup may NOT be used in your design)

You will be competing to see who can build the tallest structure. Your teacher will tell you what unit of measure you will be using.

Your teacher will tell you how much time you have to complete this challenge – Good Luck!

Engineering Design Process

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1.Problem

2. Imagine

3. Plan4. Create

5. Improve

Spaghetti Tower Challenge

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BUDDIES: ___________________________________________

PROBLEM: Write the problem in your own words_______________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

Draw and label a picture of what your tower will look like. IMAGINE/

PLAN:

CREATE:Decide who will do each

job. Make sure everyone gets a turn!

TEST: Does your tower stand on it’s own without help? Y/N

If you push lightly on your tower, does it start to fall? ________Did you use all of the materials you were given?_________________

IMPROVE: If you were to build your tower again, what

would you do differently? _____________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

What are some improvements that you tried with this challenge? ______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Draw and label the tower that you and your buddy have built. (You might want to turn your paper sideways)

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DATA COLLECTION:

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Use tally marks to show:How many mini marshmallows did you use?

_________________________________________ marshmallows

How many pieces of spaghetti did you use?

____________________________________ spaghetti

How tall is your tallest free standing tower? ___________

How wide is your tower at the base? ___________

Color the marshmallows above with an ABBCD pattern.

Go examine four other towers. Ask their owners what

the height is. Record it in inches below.

______ ______ ______ ______

Your teacher will tell you what you will use to measure your tower!

PRESENT/TEACH:

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Walk around and look at the other towers made. Compare your tower to one other tower in the room. What is similar, what is different? Which seems more stable?

ILLUSTRATE:Draw what their tower looked like.

SAME:

DIFFERENT:

Thank you for purchasing this resource. I truly appreciate your support!

If you have any questions, please contact me TeachingFullSTEAMAhead@gmail.com

www.teachingfullsteamahead.com

and connect on facebook -www.facebook.com/teachingfullsteamahead/

Copyright 2016 ~ Teaching Full STEAM Ahead

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