Water Done Smarter
Rain Catchers
- 2nd Grade -
The Challenge!
We challenge you to design and create a model (called a prototype) of a rain catcher, specifically for a house in our town!
Challenge Constraints
1) Your rain catcher must be designed specifically for Zone 1 or Zone 3 of the actual house.
2) You must use the images to gather data about the area you are designing for.
3) You must plan on paper before you build. How does your design plan best fit the needs of the zone you choose?
4) The materials we will use for our prototype are clay, straws, paper cups, foil and tape.
5) Use the LEAST amount of supplies possible.
Student Skills In Focus
Learning Goals
Students will:
Be able to design a solution to a specific situation using data obtained from analyzing images.
Produce evidence of all phases of the engineering design process.
Use the challenge to develop the Pillar Skills in focus.
Questions To Ask Students:
Can you use structures or spaces in the images as part of your design?
Is one area easier to design for than the other? Why do you think so?
What were some common parts to the student designs? Did all/most of the designs have these parts?
What were some differences between the designs? Why might it be necessary to have some differences in design?
What came up during the building/creation phase that you had NOT planned for?
Essential Questions:
What do people in our community use water for?
What are ways to get clean water?
Where does water come from?
What resources to people use and where do they come from?
NJ Student Learning Standards:
K-2-ETS1-1 Ask questions, make observations, and gather information about a situation people want to change (e.g., climate change) to define a simple problem that can be solved through the development of a new or improved object or tool. •
K-2-ETS1-2 Develop a simple sketch, drawing, or physical model to illustrate how the shape of an object helps it function as needed to solve a given problem. •
K-2-ETS1-3 Analyze data from tests of two objects designed to solve the same problem to compare the strengths and weaknesses of how each performs.
8.2.2.ED.1: Communicate the function of a product or device.
8.2.2.ED.2: Collaborate to solve a simple problem, or to illustrate how to build a product using the design process.
8.2.2.ED.3: Select and use appropriate tools and materials to build a product using the design process.
8.2.2.ED.4: Identify constraints and their role in the engineering design process.
8.2.2.ETW.2: Identify the natural resources needed to create a product.