STEAM Curriculum: Marble Run Project: Each lesson combines science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics principles through engaging, hands-on activities.
*Lesson 1: Introduction to Engineering Design:
- Objective: Understand the engineering design process.
- Activity: Discuss the steps of the design process (Ask, Imagine, Plan, Create, Improve). Students brainstorm ideas for their marble runs and sketch their designs.
- Materials: Paper rolls or construction paper, pencils, erasers.
*Lesson 2: Basic Principles of Physics:
- Objective: Learn about gravity and motion.
- Activity: Experiment with different objects (marbles, balls, etc.) rolling down ramps to observe speed, distance, and how gravity affects movement.
- Materials: ping pong balls, marbles, bouncy balls, ramps (of some kind).
*Lesson 3: Experimenting with Angles:
- Objective: Understand how angles affect speed and direction.
- Activity: Create mini ramps using cardboard at different angles. Measure how far a marble rolls on each ramp and record the data.
- Materials: cardboard, scissors, Xacto (for teacher), marbles, tape.
*Lesson 4: Introduction to Materials and Structures:
- Objective: Explore different materials and their properties.
- Activity: Gather various materials (cardboard, straws, tape, etc.) and test their strength and flexibility. Discuss which materials might be best for building marble run.
- Materials: Cardboard, straws, tape, glue, foam board, poster board, etc.
*Lesson 5: Designing a Marble Run – Part 1:
- Objective: Plan the initial structure of the marble run.
- Activity: Based on previous lessons, students create a blueprint of their marble run, incorporating slopes, twists, and turns.
- Materials: Paper rolls or construction paper, pencils, rulers.
*Lesson 6: Designing a Marble Run – Part 2:
- Objective: Build a prototype of the marble run.
- Activity: Begin constructing their marble runs using the materials they've researched and chosen. Work in teams to encourage collaboration.
*Lesson 7: Testing and Adjustments:
- Objective: Test the marble runs and identify areas for improvement.
- Activity: Each team tests their marble run with marbles. They observe where improvements can be made in speed, balance, and design.
*Lesson 8: Incorporating Arts into STEM:
- Objective: Add an artistic element to the marble run.
- Activity: Students decorate their runs, incorporating colors, themes, and creativity. Discuss how aesthetics can influence design and function.
*Lesson 9: Final Assembly and Fine-Tuning:
- Objective: Complete the marble run and ensure it operates smoothly.
- Activity: Finalize the marble runs, making last adjustments based on testing results. Create a presentation explaining their design choices and what they learned.
*Lesson 10: Marble Run Challenge Day:
- Objective: Showcase completed marble runs and conduct friendly competitions.
- Activity: Set up a challenge day where students race marbles down each team’s run. Discuss what worked well and what could be improved as a class.
Additional Notes:
*Safety Considerations: Ensure all materials are safe for use, especially when using scissors or other sharp objects.
*Integration with Literacy: Include writing prompts after each lesson where students reflect on their learning and process.
*Cross-Disciplinary Connections: Tie in math by calculating angles or speeds and science by exploring forces and energy transfers.
This curriculum aims to engage students' critical thinking, creativity, and teamwork, making learning fun and interactive through the marble run project!
Instructor - Susan Eberhardt (ClubZ!)