Become The Creative Problem Solver

Time: 60 minutes

Materials: Lesson 3 video (when completed); The Daily Doodle notebook or student worksheets (link below) and pencils.

Overview:
Students learn about the powerful impact that engineering, technology and science have on society and the natural world.

They explore the basic sciences – Physical, Earth, Life and Engineering and Technology – and the corresponding areas of study. They review investigative techniques that will be used in The Universe Within such as forming questions, conducting research, constructing a hypothesis, testing, analyzing data, drawing conclusions and communicating results.

Students are encouraged to take on the role of scientists and use problem-solving methods to refine ideas from previous lessons throughout The Universe Within. They receive the day’s assignment which is to explore solutions that their characters can use to tackle problems in their world. Students create a group Problem-Solution Table to identify some humankind’s biggest scientific solutions to problems using the various fields of science.

Conducting research on the computer, students investigate their own possible solutions to their problems. They then organize their findings in an individual Problem-Solution table so that their characters can act on what they’ve learned to help solve problems. They share with the group the items they’ve recovered and discovered that will be used to make their sculptures.

Assignments:

• As a group, students discuss how science helps humanity solve pressing problems in our world.
• As a group, students create a Problem-Solution Table to list major scientific advancements that have improved life.
• Individually, students conduct research, using the computer, and describe what basic science they’ll use to solve their problem and what fields of study they’ll need to know to do so.
• Individually, students create an action plan narrowing down and organizing 3 to 5 corresponding possible actions their characters can take to solve their problems. Finally, students share their problems, in their own words, and then read the actions their characters will take to solve the problems.
• As a group, students share what items they’ve recovered and discovered that can use in making their sculptures.

Downloads:

Student Basic & Applied Science Text Worksheet
Student Action Plan Table Worksheet
Instructor Protocol

Homework:

Students get ready to engineer their sculptures by collecting at least 5 found objects. As homework, they will look for found objects and recycled items around the house, in the yard and around town, and place these items in a safe place at home. They are encourage to look for light items such as a small paint brush, a piece of Styrofoam, cartons, a plastic water bottle, a golf tee, a spring or anything thing that speaks to them. Students will bring all their found objects to the next lesson using a bag or box to carry them.