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Itsy Bitsy STEAM Project

In this provocation, students create a water spout for Itsy Bitsy Spider while building their retelling skills. 

Objective:

  • Students will work collaboratively to design and build a model of a water spout using various materials, showcasing their understanding of how the Itsy Bitsy Spider persevered and climbed up the water spout despite challenges.

Problem-solving and strategic thinking:

  • Students will investigate different ways to represent the Itsy Bitsy Spider's journey through a STEAM activity. 

  • Through collaboration students will work together to create a final project that combines their individual strengths.

Standards/Objectives addressed:

  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.2: With prompting and support, retell familiar stories, including key details.

  • CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.G.A.2: Correctly name shapes regardless of their orientations or overall size.

  • NGSS.K-PS2-2: Analyze data to determine if a design solution works as intended to change the speed or direction of an object with a push or a pull.

Background knowledge needed:

  • Familiarity with the Itsy Bitsy Spider nursery rhyme: Students should have prior exposure to the nursery rhyme and understand the basic storyline of the spider climbing up the water spout.

  • Basic understanding of shapes and structures: Some knowledge of basic shapes like circles, triangles, and rectangles, as well as how structures are built and interconnected, would be helpful for designing and building the water spout model.

  • Teamwork and collaboration skills: Students should have some experience working in small groups, sharing ideas, and collaborating with peers to achieve a common goal.

  • Spider Webs:

  • Discuss the purpose of spider webs and how spiders use them to catch prey or protect themselves.

  • Explore the different types of spider webs and the materials spiders use to build them.

  • Demonstrate the structural integrity of spider webs and how they are designed to withstand various weather conditions.

  • Discuss how weather can affect the stability of structures like the water spout and how the Itsy Bitsy Spider's journey might be influenced by weather conditions.

Materials:

  • Cardboard tubes, plastic cups, straws, pipe cleaners, construction paper, cotton balls, blue tissue paper or cellophane, tape, glue, scissors

Prompts – questions or statements to elicit engagement:

  • How do you think the Itsy Bitsy Spider felt when it kept climbing up the water spout despite the rain?

  • What materials would you use to build a strong and sturdy water spout for the Itsy Bitsy Spider?

  • Can you describe a time when you had to persevere like the Itsy Bitsy Spider? What kept you going?

  • Let's work together to design a water spout model that can withstand different weather conditions, just like the Itsy Bitsy Spider's journey.

  • I'm excited to see how each group will interpret and represent the Itsy Bitsy Spider's story through their unique water spout designs.

  • Remember, just like the Itsy Bitsy Spider, we can overcome challenges by staying determined and never giving up.

Vocabulary:

  • Perseverance, obstacle, structure, collaboration, web, sturdy

Reflection prompts:

  • How did you feel when working on the project? 

  • Did you face any challenges, and how did you overcome them?

  • What new skills or knowledge did you acquire throughout the project?

  • How did your group work together to design and build the water spout model?

  • What were the strengths of your group collaboration, and what could be improved for future projects?

  • Did you try any new ideas or approaches during the project?

  • How can the skills and knowledge gained from this project be applied to other challenges or projects in the future?

  • Can you think of any real-world situations where the concepts explored in this project might be relevant?

Extension:

  • Create artistic representations of spider webs using various materials like yarn, glue, and beads to explore patterns and symmetry in nature.

  • Have students retell the Itsy Bitsy Spider nursery rhyme through a creative storytelling performance, incorporating elements of drama, music, or dance.

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