3rd Grade

The Imagineering Unit is an interdisciplinary unit where students will explore the six basic simple machines. The third graders will be given STEM Engineering Simple Machine Challenges that will allow the students to learn about the characteristics and functions of an inclined plane, lever, screw, pulley, wheel & axle, and wedge. STEM is a way of learning that focuses on the skills needed to learn Science, Technology, Mathematics, and how the Engineering Design Process is used to achieve the outcome. Students will get to explore, design, and test their simple machine challenges. Students will use their imagination and their knowledge of simple machines to design and build a theme park as their final project.

STEM challenge: Paper Chain

Our first day of QUEST was all about planning, problem solving, creativity, and most of all practicing our Habit of Mind on persisting (not giving up!). The challenge was to create the longest chain using only 3 materials, paper, scissors and glue.

STEM & The Engineering Design Process

What is STEM?

STEM is a way of learning that focuses on the skills needed to learn Science, Technology, and Mathematics, and how the Engineering Design Process is used to achieve an outcome.

QUEST students learned that STEM develops skills like problem solving, critical thinking, teamwork, creativity, communication, and most importantly perseverance.

STEM challenge: In groups of 2, build the tallest free-standing tower using only 20 pieces of pipe cleaners. The group with the tallest tower after 30 minutes wins!

Though the challenge was difficult and at times frustrating, our QUEST kiddos did NOT give up!

What is the Engineering Design Process?

The Engineering Design Process is a series of steps that engineers follow to come up with a solution to problems.

QUEST students followed the Engineering Design Process steps (ask, imagine, plan, create, improve, and reflect/share) to complete the challenge.

Engineering Challenge: Can you create a chair that can hold a stuffed animal using only paper and tape?

Simple Machines

How does a wedge work?

Students learned about the wedge by reading articles, taking notefacts, and adding a foldable to their lapbook.

Then they completed an engineering challenge:

Can you create a puff boat that will travel the farthest distance on 5 puffs of air? The design must include a wedge!

First we designed a plan and built the boat...

Then we tested the distance the boat traveled..

150 cm

What is a Screw?

QUEST students learned that a screw is simply an inclined plane wrapped around a cylinder. They learned this reading an article, watching animations of various screws being used, and creating a model of a screw.

WHAT IS A LEVER?

A lever is a simple machine that makes it easier for us to lift things. Levers also help us to magnify (make greater) the force made by our hands alone. Some of the vocabulary words we are studying in this lesson are lever, force, load, and fulcrum. Students also participated in the Button Launcher STEM Challenge where they designed and tested how far the button would travel when they manipulated the placement of the fulcrum.

HOW DOES A WHEEL AND AXLE WORK?

Students learned about the wheel and axle by reading articles, researching and taking notefacts, and adding a foldable to their lapbook which included examples. They learned how a wheel and axle works by completing a Lego WeDo 2.0 Engineering Challenge to build and program "Milo the Mini Rover."

Researching and taking notefacts!

All About Pulleys

A pulley is simply a collection of one or more wheels over which you loop a rope to make it easier to lift things.

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