5th Grade

Structures 

Bridges is an interdisciplinary unit designed to foster an interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math)and creative problem solving.  Students will become engaged in the topic as they complete various hands-on challenges and participate in classroom discussions. Then they will choose a specific type of bridge to research, using the Independent Investigation Method.  Finally, students will construct their bridge and present their findings at the end of the year QUEST Showcase.  

 Selfie Sculpture

This “Selfie Sculptures” activity was designed to facilitate meaningful conversations with gifted and talented students about their social and emotional learning and needs.  With guidance and support, students were able to recognize social and emotional characteristics and needs within themselves and represent them in a “Selfie Sculpture.”   These final sculptures included color-coded shapes that represent each student as an individual while encouraging creativity and a sense of community in our gifted classroom. 



Amazing!

 Bridge designers... Whose paper bridge design can hold the most pennies?  

The constraints: 

Types of Bridges 

Beam Bridge

Fifth graders are researching about the different types of bridges.  Our study begins with the beam bridge.  Students read articles, watched videos and took notefacts.  Next, they used K'NEX to construct the beam bridge. 

STEM + Art = STEAM


The students integrated ART in this extension activity. After listening to Monsters Under Bridges by Rachel Roellke Coddington, students made their own monsters using felt, poly-fil, and assorted decorative materials. 

As the students continue working on their structures unit, they will connect this activity to their bridge building by placing their monster under every bridge they build and include it in their Google Slide presentation.