YEARS K–6 IDEAS
ARTICLES
FOR THE CLASSROOM
Three Possible STEM Lessons for K-6 Teachers to Use (continued)
Lesson steps
1. Discuss with students what working scientifically is. Use an example from real-life. For example: ‘You
have a fidget spinner that goes really fast, but how can you tell whose is faster: yours or your friend’s?
Brainstorm ideas and any variables with the group. How could you make it a fair test? How could you test
it? What if you changed one variable at a time (so it is a fair test)? ‘
2. Encourage students to design a fair test and think about how they will measure their distances.
3. Explain that we are now going to do some experimenting and testing with
we will be seeking to answer these questions:
marshmallows in tubes, and
e. If a tube is longer, does the marshmallow go further?
f. If the marshmallow is smaller, does it go further?
g. Measure the distance the marshmallow can go if we blow it at different angles: horizontal, 30°, 45°, and
60°.
h. What combination of tube length and elevation gives the longest range?
4. Make the tubes.
Cut a rectangle from the file folder, measuring about 29.5 x 19 cm.
Place one of the long edges of the file folder inside the other and tighten to form a tube that fits around the
circumference of a marshmallow. The tube should be snug around the marshmallow, but not so tight that
the marshmallow isn’t able to move. It may be easier to make the tube if you first pull the folder over the
edge of a table to give the material a slight curve.
When the tube has been rolled to the appropriate size, tape it once so it stays rolled, then tape the entire
length of the seam.
5. Collect data for each of the questions on the board by using a table on the board. Each student should
record their results. For example:
6. After each lot of results are recorded, ask the students to assemble and discuss the results and what they
show. Ask: ‘Can you make any conclusions from the results?’
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SCIENCE EDUCATIONAL NEWS VOL 67 NO 4