This week we started a new unit in science called Materials and Structures. We learned what structures are and looked for different geometric shapes and forms used to create them outside and in our classroom. We also learned that engineers have to be good problem solvers, work well in a team, and be very creative.
Today we tried our first team challenge. Mrs. Watson gave each team 5 sheets of newspaper, 20 popsicle sticks, 1m of masking tape, 1m of string, and 20 minutes to build the tallest free standing structure they could.
Take a peek…
In the next few days we will be learning about forces that act on structures, joint construction, and how to strengthen materials. Then we will try this challenge again.
Dear Mrs. Watson 2/3 Class,
What an exciting science unit you are starting! I love to build things and learn about what materials are best for different structures.
You all did an excellent job working together and sharing ideas for how to build your structures. I liked some of the comments about making it “stable” and not too heavy at the top. Awesome engineering – the final structures were very impressive!
I can’t wait to see what you come up with after you have learned about forces that act on structures, joint construction, and how to strengthen materials. (I bet the newspaper could be very useful if you can figure out how to strengthen it.)
From,
Mr. Salsich
Wow! your guys did amazing. I love how you all worked together to build your structures. Very nice work!
It was so much fun making structures.Did you guys like it?I hope
From Jordan
Dear Erica,
Thank you for the comment! Engineering is hard, but we are having fun and we don’t give up! We like working together because it is better than working by ourselves. We use everybody’s ideas to build the structure.
Mrs. W and the 2/3’s
Dear Mr. Salsich,
Thank you for watching our videos and leaving us such awesome comments! We are learning a lot in the challenges. Your newspaper comment is making some of us really think!
Stay tuned for more engineering fun!
Mrs. W and the 2/3’s
Dear Mrs W and 2/3s
Jonathon thought your towers and structures looked pretty awesome!
Matthew thought you worked as good teams.
Paige liked the bridge in your second video.
JiaJia liked the little swing that held the scissors.
We all noticed good team work.
We noticed other things too.
Tristan noticed someone wearing boots like his sister does.
We looked on your bookshelf and saw some of the same books that we read: ‘Green Eggs and Ham’ and ‘The True Story of the Three Little Pigs’.
Mrs McKenzie noticed your wall map with a pin in the South Island of NZ showing where we live.
Hamish asked, “Which structures did you think were awesome?
from B4
Dear Mrs. McKenzie and B4,
You sure observed a lot! Hamish, we can’t pick our favourite because we liked them all even if some of them were catastrophic failures 🙂
Mrs. W and the 2/3’s
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