TITLE: FREE STANDING STRUCTURE
AUTHOR: Leslie Gonzales, WCI, White City, Oregon
GRADE LEVEL/SUBJECT: 4-8 Math/Science
OVERVIEW: This activity is designed to show students that
cost, time, planning, modeling, designs, teamwork, and
application are important in learning about "real world"
construction projects.
Prior Conditions: It's helpful if students have had
some experience with cooperative learning.
New Vocabulary: Define free standing structure
OBJECTIVE(s): Students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate basic construction skills by building a
free standing structure, using predetermined materials.
2. Compute cost of structure by using multiplication
skills or calculator.
3. Identify problems, successes, revisions, and purpose of
lesson by group discussion and answering questions on
worksheet.
RESOURCES/MATERIALS: *Per Group*
Approximately 20 plastic drinking straws
Approximately 20 straight pins (caution students about
safety)
10 small paper clips
1 roll of masking tape
1 yard/meter stick
1 Free Standing Structure worksheet
1 pencil or pen
1 calculator (optional)
ACTIVITIES:
1. Divide students into groups of 5-6 depending on class
size.
2. Each group will need a cleared floor area, and assigned
materials.
3. Each group should assign (or be assigned) a
spokesperson, math person, recorder, timekeeper. (jobs
may be combined)
4. Teacher explains objective and models materials without
actually building a structure.
5. Allow 3-4 minutes for groups to brainstorm on how to
begin.
6. During building time, math person keeps a tally of
material costs.
7. After building time (approx. 30-45 minutes) math person
records final structure height and cost.
8. Allow students 5 minutes to discuss questions.
Recorder transcribes student responses to worksheet.
9. Spokesperson for each group discusses structure and
worksheet questions to whole group.
TYING IT ALL TOGETHER: Refer to overview items for
discussion. Students are provided with the opportunity to
use/improve critical thinking, math, and cooperative
learning skills. Key questions in the activity are #2 and
#4 on worksheet.
FREE STANDING STRUCTURE WORKSHEET
I. Students work in groups to build a free standing
structure. The trick is to build the tallest structure
while spending the least amount of money on materials.
Students may use only specified materials.
II. Cost of materials are:
Straws- $1.00 each
Paper clips- $ .20 each
Straight pins- $ .10 each
Masking tape- $ .20 an inch
III. Structure Calculations
______ pins x $ .10 = __________
______ paper clips x $ .20 = __________
______ in./cm. tape x $ .20 = __________
______ straws x $1.00 = __________
Height of structure_______________in./cm.
Total cost of structure__________________
IV. After structure is built, students will discuss and
answer questions within their group. Spokesperson from
each small group will share structures and worksheet
questions with whole group.
V. Questions
1. What was the most difficult part of building
the free standing structure?
2. What problems, if any, did you have to solve?
3. What changes, if any, did you make after
beginning construction?
4. If you could do it again, what changes, if any,
would you make?
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