Wk 2: Selecting an Invention a Student / Teacher Conference
Learning Outcomes:
- The learner will assess the advantages and disadvantages of building each invention.
- The learner will select an invention based on a well thought out reason.
Standards:
- National Science Education Standards
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- Kindergarten – Fourth Grade
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- Students will develop an understanding of the abilities of technological design.
Assessment:
- The teacher will assess the student’s reasoning abilities by determining whether the student was able explain the reason for choosing the selected invention.
Introduction:
“Selecting an Invention” is a lesson allowing a teacher to conference with a student to select the best invention to build. “Invention Convention” is an integrated project combining learning from language arts, science, and math curriculums allowing students to apply their understandings of magnets and electricity by designing or improving an existing invention.
Classroom Time Required:
Time required for this lesson varies. Because a teacher or teachers are conferencing with students individually, it could be done in one block, during transitions, or over a period of time.
Materials Need:
- Students’ Inventor’s Logs
Pre-activities:
- Prior to the student / teacher conference, students should have completed the “What Problem Can I Solve?” lesson from Week 1.
Activities:
- When meeting with a student, the teacher will facilitate a conversation. The purpose of the conversation is to select the best invention from the student’s brainstorming that will allow the student to apply their learning of magnets and electricity, be feasible to build, and be appropriately challenging.
- The teacher can use the following question stems during the conversation:
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- Briefly tell me about the inventions you brainstormed.
- Which of the inventions is most appealing to build?
- How do you envision building this invention?
- Are there any unusual supplies that we will need to find?
Modifications:
- Because these conferences take place one on one, the teacher will be able to choose simple words and speak clearly at an appropriate pace, supplementing conversation with written words and pictures.
- Depending on the student’s invention, the teacher may be able to find a picture of something similar. The teacher can label the parts and types of materials, from the picture, that could be used to increase familiarity and build useful vocabulary.
- The teacher can introduce the word “because.” The teacher can set up the following sentence stem: I choose the ________ invention because _________.
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- I choose the fan invention because ____________________.
- I choose the light invention because ___________________.
Supplemental Information:
- Although a majority of materials can be donated, some materials will need to be purchased and may include the following: bulbs, bulb holders, batteries, battery holders, switches, insulated wire, motors, and rivets with rubber washers. Information for attaining funding and places where these supplies can be ordered can be found on the links page of the “Invention Convention” webpage, although two useful websites are listed below.
Websites:
www.enasco.com
www.delta-education.com
Supplemental Files:
Address: Campus Box 7006. Raleigh, NC 27695 Telephone: 919.515.5118 Fax: 919.515.5831 E-Mail: KenanFellows@NCSU.edu