Grade 3
Cynthia Colden
Meet the Maker: Cynthia Colden
My name is Cynthia Colden. I am a third grade teacher who teaches all academic subjects. Maker culture is important because it is a framework for thinking, problem solving and learning where student identify problems, ideate, build prototypes, test, evaluate, and adjust. There are skills that can carry students successfully through many areas of life.
Provocation: How might we make a positive impact on wild or domesticated animals who are negatively affected by humans?
Maker Plan: Third graders are reading about Wisconsin animals to identify issues, generate empathy, and create solutions.
Animals have a difficult time coexisting with humans, and often mistreated. This idea connects to the Reader’s Workshop curriculum, specifically Unit 3 (nonfiction) and Unit 5 (animal nonfiction). Animals are being mistreated, hurt, killed, and endangered. Students want to help save animal lives or improve their living conditions.
What we are making, Why we are Making, Who we are Making for:
Students will be designing and producing a product that will have a positively impact on the quality of a Wisconsin animal's life.
Maker Skill Builders & Highlights
Spontaneous
Team members get to “think on their feet” and quickly “think outside of the box.”
Try it
Developing Innovative Thinking: Disruptus
Looking at objects and ideas and using different approaches — as determined by the roll of a die — to innovate.
Authentic Audience
DNR and Schlitz Audubon Staff provide feedback so students can reflect, revise, and retest
See Our Process
Documenting the process so students can see how their ideas evolved.Animal Maker Project Template
Student Product Samples:
This can be photos /video etc...
Additional Teacher Resources & Reproducibles:
Must know tips for Teachers:
Skill builders can be utilized immediately/early in the year.
For pacing purposes, remember to implement the plan an discuss animal empathy prior to and throughout the unit.
Designate a week for prototyping stages.
Researching their animals as a group.
Students brainstorm problems and solutions using the student template.
Students create, reflect, revise, and retest their prototype.
Example of final product.