Technology Transformations

Students use the design process to transform one type of technology into another. I begin by putting out various electronic items (they do not have to work) and letting each group pick an item. Then we begin the design process. They brainstorm things they can possibly make out of their item or the parts from their technology.

Students then plan, build, improve and create. Finally, they share their final project. For example: one group of students took an electric toothbrush and transformed it into a fake tattoo machine using ink; another group took an RC car motor and plastic pieces and turned it into a boat with a propellor that worked in their pool; another group transformed a beanie hat into a mini backpack and used the wire for straps and created a button.

Submitted by: Misty Schreiber, Las Sendas Elementary, Mesa Public Schools

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TEA Lights/Take Apart/Put Back Together/and How To Writing

I was able to pick up a tea light at the stem resource center for every student in my second grade class. I did a "take apart and put back together" lesson with the students. I asked them to look at the tea light and "wonder" .... what is it? What do you wonder about ? What might be inside, etc. For example, they responded with the following: I wonder if I will get electrocuted, I wonder if it will break, I wonder if there are wires, batteries, I wonder how long they last? etc, Next, we took it apart. Then, they had to put it back together. WE DID THIS ALL VIRTUALLY! Our class does one or two stem activities every week online. I incorporated a "How to..." writing lesson. The children had to write how to take it apart with a topic sentence, directions, and conclusion. You can differentiate this by having them write the directions on how to put it back together. My daughter is an engineer for Amazon Robotics so she did a great job explaining and drawing pictures of the "current" etc. Next, we are going to use the shavers I picked up at eh resource center and talk about what they might be? How could we use them in space? or a deserted island? Great writing project! Thank you for the lights. I can hardly wait to do it again next year. One student said, "Mrs. Schmidt, this was the BEST!"

Submitted by: Lori Schmidt, Broadmor Elementary, Tempe Elementary School District.

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