Application of Content:
The teacher understands how to connect concepts and use differing perspectives to engage learners in critical thinking, creativity, and collaborative problem solving related to authentic local and global issues.
Describe artifact that was used as the example for the standard
The artifact that I chose for artifact five was a STEM activity with marshmallows and uncooked spaghetti noodles. We did this activity on 2/22/2022. Students were given 22 marshmallows and 22 uncooked spaghetti noodles and had 22 minutes to work together with their partner to plan, design, and execute the tallest tower using these objects.
Give a rationale on why this activity is appropriate
This STEM activity is appropriate because this activity allows students to be creative, use their critical thinking skills, and problem-solve in a collaborative manner. Allowing the students to collaborate with a partner helps them learn from one another. Their creativity was used by allowing the students to completely come up with their own idea as to how they wanted to build their tower to be the tallest in the class. Students needed to critically think when designing their tower because the spaghetti noodles were extremely flimsy and the large marshmallows were extremely sticky and heavy. They used their problem-solving skills to understand that less is more. When students used smaller spaghetti pieces and marshmallow pieces, they were able to build taller towers. They began to understand the concept of gravity.