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Sturdy Structures

In this provocation, students will explore various shapes to build a stronger wall for Humpty Dumpty.

Objective:

  • How can you build a wall for Humpty Dumpty?

  • How can you build a wall that Humpty Dumpty can sit on safely without falling off?

Problem-solving and strategic thinking:

  • Students will use a variety of materials to build a sturdy wall.

  • Students will compare materials used to build a sturdy wall.

Standards/Objectives addressed:

  • 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.

  •  K-PS2-1: Plan and conduct an investigation to compare the effects of different strengths or different directions of pushes and pulls on the motion of an object.

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

  • K.MD.A.1: Describe measurable attributes of objects, such as length or weight. Describe several measurable attributes of a single object.

Background knowledge needed:

  • Understanding of shapes, angles, and spatial orientation to design and construct the wall effectively.

  • Familiarity with different materials (such as cardboard, popsicle sticks, clay) and their properties to choose suitable building materials for the wall.

  • Knowledge of basic engineering principles like stability, weight distribution, and structural integrity to ensure the wall can support Humpty Dumpty without collapsing.

  • Ability to plan and conduct simple investigations to test the strength and durability of different wall designs.

  • Capacity to think creatively, innovate, and troubleshoot potential challenges that may arise during the construction process.

Materials:

  • Recycled materials, popsicle sticks or craft sticks , adhesive materials: tape, glue, glue dots, clay, scissors, markers or paint, ruler clay

Prompts – questions or statements to elicit engagement:

  • What shapes can we use to make our wall strong and stable?

  • How can we ensure that our wall is tall enough to protect Humpty Dumpty?

  • What materials do you think will be the best choice for building a sturdy wall?

  • How can we test the strength of our wall before placing Humpty Dumpty on it?

  • What improvements or additions could we make to our wall design to enhance its stability?

  • Why is it important to consider the angle and positioning of our wall in relation to Humpty Dumpty?

  • How can we decorate our wall to make it more visually appealing while still keeping it strong?

  • What other nursery rhyme characters might benefit from a similar sturdy wall? How would you design it for them?

Vocabulary:

  • stability, structural integrity, foundation, reinforcement, design, angle, support, load, collapse, decoration

Reflection prompts:

  • What challenges did you encounter while building the wall, and how did you overcome them?

  • How did your understanding of shapes and structures help you design a sturdy wall for Humpty Dumpty?

  • What was the most important factor in ensuring the stability of your wall?

  • Did your initial design plan evolve as you started building the wall? If so, how and why?

  • How did you decide on the materials to use for the wall, and do you think they were good choices?

  • What aspects of the construction process did you enjoy the most, and why?

  • If you were to rebuild the wall, what improvements or changes would you make based on what you learned?

  • How did working as a team contribute to the success of your wall-building project?

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