This week, we were tasked with designing a lesson, using our makers kit, that could be implemented into our current classroom. My lesson utilizes a Makey Makey kit to teach 5th graders about simple circuits, while maintaining a “Growth Mindset”.
Over the years of teaching, I have noticed that many students seem to give up at the first sign of a challenge. Many students tend to have a “Fixed Mindset” where they give up or put forth little effort as opposed to a “Growth Mindset” where they put in their best effort and try until they succeed. A Makerspace is a perfect environment to foster a growth mindset. Therefore, I combined teaching simple circuits with the idea of teaching my students to have a growth mindset.
Throughout this lesson, students will use the Engineering Design Process to complete the Makey Makey circuit design challenges. They will design a plan to complete their Makey Makey Challenge, create a prototype, test the plan, redesign it, and find the solution. In order to complete the project, they must work together with their teammates, push past their “failures” and try again to ultimately discover their solution. This lesson will help students learn a fundamental science skill while creating a collaborative problem-solving environment that nurtures a growth mindset.
View the full lesson plan below or select the link here to view it in Google Docs. Any feedback you have, is welcomed and encouraged.
Simple Circuit Challenge
5th Grade Science Lesson Plan
Time: 3 x 40-45 minute class periods
Standards:
4a
Students know and use a deliberate design process for generating ideas, testing theories, creating innovative artifacts or solving authentic problems.
Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 5 topics and texts, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.
Report on a topic or text or present an opinion, sequencing ideas logically and using appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details to support main ideas or themes; speak clearly at an understandable pace.
Student Learning Objectives: I can create a simple circuit using various materials that act as conductors and insulators.
I can help myself gain a growth mindset by using the engineering design process identify the problem, create a plan/solution, build a prototype, test, and redesign.
Key Questions: What basic materials do you need to create a simple circuit? Does it need to be the same materials every time? How did you maintain a growth mindset through this process?
Problem: Create a simple circuit using different materials and a Makey Makey kit.
Assessment:
Students successfully created the challenge and took a video using screencastify to show their success. /10
Students demonstrate their understanding of a simple circuit by showing their original design. /5
Students demonstrate their growth mindset by showing their redesign for their prototype. /5
BONUS: The circuit that was created was drawn up, by using the circuit component symbols found here. /5
Materials:
- Makey Makey for 5-6 groups of students
- Alligator Clips
- Tin-foil
- Playdoh
- Popsicle Sticks
- Bananas or other conductive fruits
- Challenge cards1 and Challenge Cards 2– I recommend copying two of each and 5 of the 2 Starter challenges. Laminating them for better protection.
Rationale:
The main goals of this lesson are to learn how a simple circuit works, but more importantly help to create a growth mindset while applying the Engineering Design Process. Using the Makey Makey to design simple circuits creates an environment for Collaborative Problem solving and allows students to build a growth mindset. Collaborative Problem-Solving states that students will be able to achieve more, on each challenge, working together, then they would be able to alone. Through scaffolding, students can combine their understanding of the each topic to have collaborative success. They will create and redesign their circuits using shared knowledge (O’Donnell, 2012).
Throughout this process, students will follow the Engineering Design Process, by working together to design a plan, create a prototype, redesign, and find a solution (Science Buddies, 2017). This process is a great tool for a Makerspace as well as creating an environment for growth mindsets. Students will build a “Growth Mindset” and learn that it is okay to “fail” or not have something work the first time. The important thing is to be able to identify the problem and create a positive solution by working with one another (Popova, 2015). Students should not fear the challenge, but embrace it to expand their knowledge and understanding.
Hook/Antecedent Set:
Provide students with alligator clips, copper wire, coated wire, C or D battery, and a light bulb.
Say: Students, today I want you to attempt to make this light bulb light up. The challenge is that your design constraints are that you can only use these materials (alligator clips, copper wire, coated wire, C or D battery, and a light bulb). Explore! Give students around 20 minutes to figure this out.
Procedures:
Day 1: (approx. 45 minutes)
- Complete the Antecedent Set. Allow students to explore for around 15-20 minutes.
- Bring their attention back together to discuss their findings and process.
- Connect their exploration to having a growth mindset. They were faced with a challenge. Ask: Did you give up? Did you put in your best effort? Did you try something new, redesign, and try again?
- Ask: What was the challenge that you were trying to complete? How did they get the light bulb to work? What didn’t work?
- Draw the “circuit” they created to make the lightbulb work on the board. See if students connect to the idea of creating a simple circuit.
- Read over the student objectives posted in the classroom together. I can create a simple circuit using various materials that act as conductors and insulators. I can help myself gain a growth mindset by using the engineering design process identify the problem, create a plan/solution, build a prototype, test, and redesign.
- Briefly go over the simple circuit website.
Day 2: (approx. 40 minutes)
- Review what made their lightbulb work in yesterday’s lesson.
- Quickly go over what a simple circuit is again.
- Display the 7 challenge cards to spark their interest in each challenge.
- Explain that they will be working in groups to complete the challenge. They will need to draw/write up their original plan, then redesign it to work better. Students are welcome to grab any materials they need from the “makerspace”/materials table. Their design constraint is to use a Makey Makey board for each challenge.
- All Students need to complete the Starter Challenge Cards 1-2
- Disperse the challenge cards around the room into 5 designated work spaces placing Challenge Cards 1-2 at each station.
- Allow students to choose their challenge.
- Students will work in groups to complete 1 project. All students must participate in their design. If they finish early, each card should have a challenge shown on the “How to” link below.
- If they need assistance, students can access “How-To’s” through this link on a document showing step-by-step instructions for completing their challenge.
Day 3: (approx. 45 minutes)
- Students will put the final touches on their project.
- Groups will record their project by using screencastify.
- CHALLENGE: Students will draw up their simple circuit by following the circuit component symbols shown on this website.
- Students should check the rubric to be sure they have completed all the criteria for this project.
References:
O’Donnell, A. (2012). Constructivism. In APA Educational Psychology Handbook: Vol. 1. Theories, Constructs, and Critical Issues. K. R. Harris, S. Graham, and T. Urdan
Popova, M. (2015, September 18). Fixed vs. Growth: The Two Basic Mindsets That Shape Our Lives. Retrieved April 09, 2017, from https://www.brainpickings.org/2014/01/29/carol-dweck-mindset/
All of the Makey Makey activities above were found at the sites below:
Makey Makey Kit Librarian Reference Manuel. (2017, June 07). Retrieved April 8, 2017, from https://cdn.sparkfun.com/assets/7/d/2/2/1/MakeyMakeyKitLibrarianReferenceManual.pdf
Simple Circuits Challenge. (n.d.). Retrieved April 09, 2017, from http://makeymakey.com/lessons/simple-circuit-challenge/
The Engineering Design Process. (n.d.). Retrieved April 09, 2017, from http://www.sciencebuddies.org/engineering-design-process/engineering-design-process-steps.shtml
The Blobz Guide to Electric Circuits. (n.d.). Retrieved April 09, 2017, from http://www.andythelwell.com/blobz/guide.html
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