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Subject: STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math)
Lesson Length: 35 - 45 mins
Topic: STEM Challenges
Grade Level: 4, 5
Standards / Framework:
Brief Description: Students will describe an invention that would solve a global or environmental problem, e.g., flooding, waste disposal, pollution, extreme heat, etc.
Know Before You Start:
- Students should have some prior knowledge of the STEM challenge process.
Hook:
- Review the STEM challenge process with students:
- Identify the problem.
- Brainstorm solutions.
- Formulate a plan.
- Construct a solution.
- Test the solution.
- Reflect.
- Iterate.
- Read and discuss the sample comic.
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- What global or environmental problem was the character facing?
- What did they invent to solve this problem?
Activity:
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As a class or independently, have students brainstorm a list of global or environmental problems.
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Discuss the function of a prototype. A prototype is a sample solution and can be as simple as a description or drawing.
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Have students create a five-panel comic describing a prototype solution to a global problem which includes the following:
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The problem.
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Possible solutions.
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A plan or prototype and an explanation about how it would solve the problem.
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- Explain that they will not be able to test their solution, as they would on a home or school problem.
Closure:
- Have students share their proposed inventions with a partner.
Differentiation:
- Allow students to use the speech-to-text feature.
- Allow students to use the voiceover feature to read their comics aloud.
- Allow students to work in pairs or groups as needed.
- Provide a list of global or environmental problems from which to choose.
Resources:
- Comic to print or display: Comic.
Make a comic about National Parks
Make a comic about the Rainforest
Make a comic about the Beach
Make a comic about The Ocean
Make a comic about the Rock Cycle
Make a comic about Winter
