Structures Level: 2nd Grade Time Frame: Approximately 1 Quarter  Description: Students learn in this unit about the various ways that buildings can be made stronger to withstand greater forces.

Overview Activity List Learning Objectives Standards Resources

Learning Objectives

Students will observe and know and observe that:

• The forces that act on structures include wind and water.
• Many different geometric shapes are used in structures, but some are used much more than others.
• The shapes used in a structure have a purpose: they may make the structure stronger, let water drain off, or just be used to make the structure look nice.
• There are many different kinds of structural materials with different properties.
• The properties of the different materials make them useful for different purposes.
• Structural materials change over time, and there are several things that can cause these changes.
• Gravity pulls structures toward the earth; some methods of construction help structures pull against the force of gravity and stand up better (remain stable).
• Bridges pose a different kind of design problem than buildings and towers because a bridge is a mostly horizontal structure (rather than vertical), it has to support a lot of weight in specific places, and it may not be possible to build many direct supports under a bridge.

Students will practice:

• Describing observed things and events.
• Collecting data.
• Recording data.
• Arranging data into logical patterns and describing patterns.
• Comparing observations of individual and group results.
• Formulating possible solutions to a design problem.
• Designing a device that will be useful in solving the problem.
• Building the device using the materials and tools provided.
• Testing the device and recording results.
• Reporting the design, the test process and the results in solving a given problem.

Standards

Illinois State Standards: Early Elementary- As a result of their schooling, students will be able to:

11A. Know and apply the concepts, principles, and processes of scientific inquiry.

• Describe an observed event.
• Develop questions on scientific topics.
• Collect and record data for investigations.
• Arrange data into logical patterns and describe the patterns.
• Compare observations of individual and group results.

11B. Know and apply the concepts, principles, and processes of technological design.

• Given a simple design problem, formulate possible solutions.
• Design a device that will be useful in solving the problem.
• Build the device using the materials and tools provided.
• Test the device and record results using the given instruments, techniques, and measurement methods.
• Report the design, the test process and the results in solving a given problem.

12C. Know and apply concepts that describe properties of matter and energy and interactions between them.

• Compare large-scale physical properties of matter.

12D. Know and apply concepts that describe force and motion and the principles that explain them.
Identify observable forces in nature (gravity).

National Science Education Standards: Fundamental Concepts and Principles- As a result of activities in grades K-4, all students should develop an understanding of fundamental concepts and principles:

• Objects have many observable properties, including size, weight, shape, temperature, and the ability to react with other substances. These properties can be measured.
• Objects are made of one or more materials.
• The position and motion of objects can be changed by pushing or pulling.

Benchmarks for Science Literacy
By the end of 2nd grade, students should know:

• Things can be done to materials to change their properties, but not all materials respond the same way to what is done to them.
• Things near the earth fall to the ground unless something holds them up.

Resources

Champaign Community Unit School District #4 * Mellon Administrative Center
703 South New Street * Champaign, IL 61820 * 217.351.3800