Last updated: April 5, 2022
Lesson Plan
Beach Debris Design Challenge
- Grade Level:
- Upper Elementary: Third Grade through Fifth Grade
- Subject:
- Science
- Lesson Duration:
- 90 Minutes
- State Standards:
- 4-ESS3-2, ETS1.A (from 4-PS3), 5-ESS3-1, 5-ESS3.C, 3-5-ETS1-1, 3-5-ETS1-2, 3-5-ETS1-3
Essential Question
What are some of the situations and processes that lead to the formation of microplastics and possible solutions to the problem?
Objective
At the end of the activity students will gain a better understanding of the different factors that turn plastic items into microplastics, why microplastics are a problem, and what are some possible solutions.
Background
Teacher Instructions:
Phase 1
Time: Set aside about 50 minutes for this activity.
Materials: Printed phase 1 worksheet & design challenge kit inventory sheet (one per group)
Pencils
Erasers
One sheet of blank paper for each group member
Activity Instructions: Divide the classroom into their design challenge groups. Ask groups to spread out and find a space in the classroom away from other groups. Pass out one worksheet and inventory sheet to each group. Pass out a blank piece of paper, a pencil and an eraser to each student in every group.
Students will use pencils and the blank sheets of paper to write down or draw their individual ideas and thoughts as they work as a group through the worksheet.
Students will be working together to brainstorm answers to the worksheet questions. Once they all agree, a group member will write the groups answer on the worksheet. One student can volunteer to be a “scribe” for the group. Students will design and draw a 2-dimensional model of a beach cleaning machine.
Each group will be attaching a final copy of their drawn beach cleaning machine model to the front of their completed worksheet. One student should volunteer to hold onto this worksheet. They will need it to help them complete phase 2, where they will build their 3-dimensional model.
Preparation
Phase 2: Teacher Instructions
Time Needed: 40-50 mins or longer. Students may want multiple sessions.
Each group:
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Pre-Construction Worksheet
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The instructional guide “Building Your Beach Cleaning Model!”
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Materials kit, which includes:
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4 wheels
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2 axles
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1 motor assemblage (powered off)
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2 AA batteries
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2 gears
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10 twist ties
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3 cardboard sheets
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3 straws
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1 piece of screen
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5 brass fasteners
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5 popsicle sticks
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Pieces of recycling
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Scissors, tape, glue, other basic classroom supplies if needed
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Other recycled materials from home (nothing extra!)
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Adequate floor/desk space to build
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Post Construction Worksheet
Instructions:
Hand out the Pre-Construction Worksheet. This worksheet is to encourage the students to work together as a team and listen to each other’s vision. The goal of this is to avoid one student’s idea being forced upon others without communication in the group.
Once they are finished with the Pre-Construction Worksheet, they will need the instructional guide and the materials kit. Encourage the students to look over the instructional guide but inform them that they do not have to follow it. Encourage the students to use the best of their creative minds to achieve their goals with the model.
Confirm that each motor is functional in each kit
Will need 2 AA batteries each – do not put the batteries in until construction is completed
On/Off switch should be powered off when assembling
Ensure there are no exposed wires in the motor assemblage
If motor is not functional, do not use.
Encourage students that they do not need to use the motor but could manually move the model. The motor attachment can make things more complicated and may require attention to detail for it to work properly.
Help students line up gears from motor to axle so that the wheels rotate
If you need to, hot glue guns or other common classroom materials may make assembly easier.
Once the students are finished with construction, pass out the Post-Construction Worksheet to reflect on the process. The goal of this worksheet is to help them build critical thinking and problem-solving skills by identifying the issue they came across and how they handled it.
Have the students turns for show and tell of their model and the questions they answered on the Post-Construction Worksheet. Have the students:
Show off their model
Give the class its name
Explain how it works
State what issues they came across with construction, and
How they handled those issues.
Next phase is to test their models!
Materials
Use this worksheet to design your model.
Download Phase 1 Student Worksheet
Procedure
Phase 3: Teacher Instructions For
Beach Cleaning Machine Model Trials
Make sure you have:
*Materials for groups to use for repairing their machine such as:
Tape, glue, wire, twist ties. Other recycled materials (try not to have them bring in new materials or items like flashlights that might make other groups jealous). We will have one extra kit for you to use for repairs. Anything else you have in class will work too!
*Scissors for each group
*Adequate floor/desk space for each group to test the moving machine
*One checklist sheet “Beach Cleaning Machine Test” per group
Instructions:
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Each group has designed and constructed a beach cleaning machine model. Now it’s time to test their machines out! Let class know that their machine is a model and they should not set their expectations too high! Emphasize that you are more concerned with how it moves, does it stay together, and whether it looks like it could do the job of cleaning microplastics from a beach. This is an exercise in imagination and creativity! It would be great if it could scoop up, filter, and store the microplastics, but as a model this would be very hard to do. In real life the model gives an engineer/designer a rough idea of how their machine would work.
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Set the boundaries for where they can run trials for their model. It should be an open space or a table with enough area so that it does not bump into other groups and items. Before they start, remind them that each group should do the pre-trial checklist. The key one will be the second box asking if their machine uses the motor to operate. If it does use a motor and it is not working, try resetting the batteries in the housing again or check for a bad connection in the wires. Either way they may need your help with that! If the motor still doesn’t work, they can use their imagination!
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Trial time! Before they start, let them know that it’s ok to mark “NO” on items on the trial portion of the checklist. Each group should have some issue with their machine. Remind them to go to the back page to write or draw the problem and what their solutions are. In real life designers will make multiple adjustments to something they are testing.