Design and Function

Kindergarteners in Mrs. Dawkins’ class are tapping into their natural curiosity, and developing problem solving skills as they learn how to explore, plan, design and create.  Our lesson started by watching a book on video of the classic story, Jack and the Beanstalk. 

 

 We discussed what was the structure of the beanstalk? Tall and strong. What was the function? To get Jack to the top of the clouds. Mrs. Dawkins posed the problem of how to create their own beanstalk out of flexible pipe cleaners and make it so the beanstalk would stand up! A few ideas were shared collectively in a group setting and then we broke into partner groups to plan and create. As the partner groups worked, they discovered it was not easy to make the beanstalk stand up, so alternate ideas began “popping” up to help stop the beanstalk from “toppling” over! Some groups had pipe cleaner roots spread apart at the base, others looked sort of like “spiders” and some groups created a circular design for the base.

 

Once our beanstalk was able to stand...the next step was to balance a plastic egg on it! Oh no - back to the drawing board!!! Students had to redesign their beanstalk to make a "cup" shape to hold their egg. At first we struggled, but as some of our friends began to find a way...the energy spread around the room and we got excited that we could also balance our egg....or at least give it a good effort.

 

 

 

 As the students worked they tapped into engineering skills and critical thinking in an engaging and “hands-on” way.  Just as important, they learned that it is okay to make a mistake or revise an idea.  At the end of our session we shared our “creations” and noticed some similarities as well as some differences. Hmmmm …..it seems  there isn’t just one way to solve a problem! Now that’s an important life skill to know that will benefit these now and in the future.