Unit Description:
This is a short 5-7 Day unit on Technical writing, Sketching, Drawing & Directions. The resource below provides information on a Balsa Wood Glider. The student must understand the components and then they will create a detailed description on how to assemble and construct the glider. - KEEP IN MIND YOU WILL NEED SOME SUPPLIES, take a look down through the lessons and get the supplies ordered now if you don't have them.
This unit provides student and instructor choice. The instructor can provide another simple project where the student could display their technical writing. The unit should be limited to5-6 days and the emphasis is on technical writing and following directions, with a review of drawing and sketching.
Learning to write technical instructions is challenging. Writers must consider audience, purpose, context, length, and complexity—plus the specific content of the instructions, such as the steps in using a stapler.
In this lesson, students walk through the process of creating technical instructions by first analyzing existing instructions. They then select an item and an audience for which they will write technical instructions. After writing their own instructions, students conduct usability tests of each other's instructions, providing user feedback. Finally, students use this user feedback to revise their instructions before publishing them.
Sample technical instructions (Manuals, user guides, etc.)
Household items for writing instructions
Chromebook / Desktop
Large white paper (Chart-sized sticky notes work well for hanging items on wall)
Phone or Chromebook Camera
Additional Resources
EL Folder (Please Make A Copy - Patrick)
This storyboard organizer might support EL students (and mainstream students) in the "write it" part - first draw their ideas and then bring in content vocabulary before digging into sentences/paragraphs
Lesson 1: Analyzing Technical Instructions
Teacher Resources
Understand the difference between technical writing and other genres of writing.
Analyze technical instructions to learn what makes them effective or ineffective for an audience.
Materials Needed
Chromebook / Desktop
Student Activities & Resources
How to Write Procedures - Google Site
Movement
Students can get up and move when analyzing the technical instructions. You could also have the group come up and share out their analysis in front of the room.
Teacher Notes:
In the lesson starters, stress that this is a skill that ALL students will need to develop, very few things come assembled today. Break down the parts of the directions and discuss how technical writing is written and for all levels of the reader.
Use the counter to hold students accountable and make sure you do a 10 minute checkpoint.
Computational Thinker - Breaking the Directions down to analyze them.
Lesson 2: Creating a Technical Writing and Drawing Document
Teacher Resources
Use document and audience analysis, drafting, peer response/user feedback, and revision to create effective technical instruction for your personal product.
Reflect on your directions.
Get the students to all write down their instructions on how to make a peanut and butter sandwich. Do not show this, but this is what happens. - Do a few iterations, give the students a chance to improve their directions.
Materials Needed
Bread, Peanut butter and Jelly
Large Chart Paper
Colored Pencils or Markers
1 Object from HOME (Teacher may have some available in the classroom for students who failed to bring something in)
Student Activities & Resources
Movement
Students will be designing their instructions on their poster board. If you put in groups rotate of who is drawing every 10 minutes
Teacher Notes:
Have fun with the lesson starter, you could use PB&J sandwiches or anything else, even just how to eat a banana!!! Do a few iterations of the directions.
Students will design a detailed set of instructions using the "Mars Effect" on a large posterboard. Using sketching, measurement, and drawing skills from the previous units.
Skilled Professional (page 2) - Developing technical writing and drawings.
Lesson 3: Complete Technical Drawing and Usability Test
Teacher Resources
Complete you Technical Writing and Drawings
Conduct a usability test and make adjustments to your directions.
Lesson Starter - Not Following Directions & Instructions: How to Write for Busy, Grouchy People
Materials Needed
Large Chart Paper - From the day before
Color Pencils or Markers
1 Object from HOME
Student Activities & Resources
Movement
Students should be up for 30 minutes updating their directions and the moving when they do a usability test with two other groups.
Teacher Notes:
Students will have 30 more minutes to complete project and then they will perform a usability test to two other groups. They should then make adjustment to their directions based on the feedback.
Lesson 4: Blind Challenge Capstone - Written Instructions
Teacher Resources
Review some Fundamental Flight Terminology
Develop an Instruction sheet for your balsa wood glider.
Materials Needed Class Set
Ultimate Wood Glue - poor into small dispensers
Wax Paper - You could just buy at a store, this prevents the glue from sticking to paper, it is great to build on.
Student Activities & Resources
Create a Instruction Document
Movement
Have Students move around when they are drawing and designing, you could have a gallery walk at the end as well so they could check out everyone's design.
Important: Depending on the shop and tools you have you could build a balsa wood plane or balsa wood frame plane with Styrofoam wings and elevator.
Encourage different designs
You may need to review some flight with students.
Limit the size of the planes with the material you have available. 6-8" wingspan plans will take a lot less balsawood than 12" wingspan planes.
Also, I recommend cutting all the balsawood and have a packet ready for the students (that is their material and that is all they get)
Innovative Designer and Responsible Citizen - Page 4
Additional Assessment Option
Building off the last unit, have student write a detail instruction manual on how to build a Lego Design in OnShape, so others can create the same design.
Lesson 5: Blind Challenge Capstone - Construction of the Plane
Teacher Resources
Have checkpoints on the construction of the plane
This should only be a 1 day build and test.