Second Grade STEM: Island of Imagination
Imagine this… Rocky, your
pet rock, is stranded on an island. You need to build a lookout tower so he/she
can see all over the island. Build the tower strong so Rocky can sit on it!
MVE
second grade students participated in a recent STEM (Science, Technology,
Engineering, and Math) lesson entitled: Island
of Imagination. The lesson was a series of four problems.
Second grade teachers also incorporated an Art lesson by making a pet rock. Students painted the rocks, added eyes, feathered,
and named their rocks.
Here is how students “Rocked” the task:
1. First, students explained
the problem.
2. Then, they brainstormed
solutions with a partner.
3. Next, students made
a plan that described how to solve the problem. (They could use drawings and
words to explain their plan.)
4. Students then had
to follow their plan.
5. Finally, students had
to think about what didn’t work. They made changes and tried again.
Students used a
recording sheet throughout the process to track their progress. They were given
the opportunity to make a plan, imagine, create, and improve.
