IPST STEM Workshop

May 8, 2013

Workshop Activity #1 – The Scientific Method

Directions: Working in small groups (4-6 people), conduct a “Scientific Method Experiment”

using M&Ms and report findings to the class (15 minutes).

Lesson Objective: To have students apply the scientific method to find an answer to a

question based on real observations that occur in the natural world.

Complete the Following:

1. Identify a Question (Problem Statement):

State Hypothesis: __________________________________________________________

2. Develop and list the Procedures needed to conduct the Experiment:

List Independent Variable: _______________________________________________

List Dependent Variable: _______________________________________________

3. Collect Data:

4. Conclusion (Explain Results and Findings):

IPST STEM Workshop

May 8, 2013

Workshop Activity #2 – Engineering Design

Directions: Working in small groups (4-6 people), complete an “Engineering Design”

Challenge using M&Ms (30 minutes).

Lesson Objectives: To have students apply and document the engineering design process

and to show how the concepts of STEM are connected to this process.

Complete the Following:

Conditions: A store owner would like to reward the children who visit his store by giving

them a few free M&M’s candy.

Challenge: Develop a prototype of “candy dispenser” that freely dispenses a few M&M’s

candy to children. Document the steps used to develop this prototype in the Engineering

Notebook.

Criteria and Constraints:

Criteria: Must be able to freely dispense a few (3-6) M&M’s at a time. Must hold at least

one bag of M&M’s.

Constraints: Built using only materials and tools supplied. Must be completed in 40

minutes.

Resources: Various tools, materials, and equipment available in the workshop room.

Evaluation:

Prototype (50%)

Engineering Notebook Documenting Engineering Design Process (25%)

STEM Concepts (25%)

Engineering Notebook

Directions: An engineering notebook contains proper

documentation so that ideas are not lost and projects can be

duplicated. In addition, in the notebook, your team will list

how the concepts of science, technology, engineering, and

mathematics (STEM) related to this activity.

Complete the Following:

1. Identify the Problem, Need, or Preference:

2. Information Gathering to Develop Possible Solutions

3. Selection of the Best Possible Solution

4. Design and Making

5. Testing to see if it Works

6. Modifications and Improvement

7. Assessment

STEM Components

Science

Technology

Engineering

Math

IPST STEM Workshop

May 8, 2013

Workshop Activity #3 – Engineering Design Challenge Development

Directions: Working in small groups (4-6 people) develop an “Engineering Design”

Challenge and “Teacher Information Sheet” for Thai Students in Grade 9-12 that emphasizes

the concepts of STEM.

Teacher Information Sheet:

1. Preparation: Develop Learning Objectives: (Use Thailand’s “Basic Education Core

Curriculum B.E. 2551 (A.D. 2008) and list appropriate standards and key indicators (e.g.,

from science, math, or design and technology strands) below.

Strand: _________________ Standard(s): ________________ Key Indicators: ____________

Strand: _________________ Standard(s): ________________ Key Indicators: ____________

Strand: _________________ Standard(s): ________________ Key Indicators: ____________

Resources:

Moomaw, S. (2013). Teaching STEM in Early Years. St. Paul, MN: Readleaf Press.Moyer,

R.H. & Everett S.A. (2012). Everyday Engineering. Arlington, Virginia: NSTA Press.

Engineering Journal Bubble Bonanza (2012). Boston Museum of Science.

2. Presentation:

Engineering Design Process

STEM Concepts: (Provide Suggestions Below)

Science

Technology

Engineering

Math

Engineering Design Challenge – Develop (Use attached sheet).

3. Application: Engineering Design Challenge

4. Evaluation:

IPST STEM Workshop

Engineering Design Challenge

1. Conditions:

2. Challenge:

3. Criteria and Constraints:

Criteria:

Constraints:

4. Resources:

5. Evaluation:

Engineering Design Challenge

Water Tower

Conditions

Engineers and scientists work together to build water towers.

Water towers are elevated structures with a water tank on the top.

The tanks are built high off the ground because it helps to

pressurize the water.

Pressure from the water in the tank can be used to provide

pressurized drinking water to homes and can provide water storage

for emergencies, for example, to fight fires.

An engineering company is trying to build a new “ball-shaped”

water tower. They are currently in the design planning stage and

are wondering how high a “ball-shaped” water tower can be built.

The higher the water tower, the more water pressure that it can

deliver.

Challenge This is a group challenge activity. You will be divided into

“engineering teams” of 3-4 students and given a supply of building

materials. Your team’s challenge in this activity is to try and build

the tallest water tower possible capable of holding a water tank

securely on top.

Criteria &

Constraints

The tower must be built using only the materials provided.

All Building Materials must be used in the construction of

the tower.

The water tank (i.e., Ping-Pong ball) must set on top of the

tower so that it can easily be removed for replacement.

After completed, the water tower must be able to stand-up

by itself for at least one minute.

The activity must be completed in 30 minutes.

Resources Building Materials: 3 pieces of paper of A-4 paper, 7 Drinking

Straws (25.5 cm), 60cm of Scotch Tape, 2 paper clips,1 (32mm)

double clip

Building Tools: Ruler, Scissors, Needle Nose Pliers, and Knife

Internet: How Water Towers Work:

www.howstuffworks.com/water.htm

Water Towers: www.watertowers.com

Evaluation (10 points Maximum)

10 points: Highest standing water tower – meets criteria.

9 points: Completed water tower – meets criteria.

8 points: Completed water tower – does not meet criteria.

7 points: Incomplete Water Tower – Effort shown.

Learning Outcomes

1. To learn how to use the Engineering Design Process.

2. To be able to describe that technological innovation have benefits and limitations.

STEM Connections: Building Materials, Pressure, Measuring, Elevation, Design

Engineering Design Challenge

Medical Supply Delivery

Conditions

Two different countries are connected by a small old bridge. This is

the only bridge in hundreds of kilometers that connect the countries

and heavy rains have resulted in flooding that has caused this bridge

to be washed away. There are sick people on the other side of the

river in a small village that is far from their main cities and they need

medicine.

Challenge This is a group challenge activity. You will be divided into

“engineering teams” of 3-4 students and given a selected supply of

materials. Your team’s challenge in this activity is to develop a

method to deliver a small medicine package across the river.

Criteria &

Constraints

You will be given a kit of materials to build your delivery

system to deliver the medicine package (i.e., ping pong ball)

across the river – you do not have to use all the materials.

Heavy rains have made the river between the two counties to

rush very swiftly and it is impossible to cross the river by

boat.

You will be permitted to select one-item from the various

“recycle piles” that have been created because of the floods.

Group selection will be done randomly.

Human power cannot used to throw the medicine package and

the people are too sick to catch anything.

The other country that needs the medicine is 60 centimeters

lower than the other country.

The width across the river is approximately 4 meters.

The activity must be completed in 45 minutes.

Resources Materials: Supply kit containing the medicine package (i.e., ping

pong ball) and various supplies. 3 Piles of Recycled Materials.

Building Tools: Ruler, Scissors, common hand tools, and Knife.

Evaluation (10 points

Maximum)

10 points: Medicine Package Successfully Delivered to

Island.

9 points: Attempted Delivery of the Package – Not

Successful.

7 points: Challenge not Completed - Effort shown.

2 points: Challenge not Completed – Little or No Effort

shown.

Learning Outcomes

1. To learn how to use the Engineering Design Process in the building of a medical supply

delivery system.

2. To be able to discuss how the development of science and technology can be used

between countries as it is part of ASEAN’s mission.

3. To be able to discuss how people can expand their definition of community through

technology.

4. To be able to describe that technological innovation have benefits and limitations.

STEM Connections: Building Materials, Measurement, Angles, Power and Energy,

Randomization, Waste Disposal, Global Problems.