Over the last 8 days, the STEM team has been working collaboratively on creating structures with vertical height and symmetry!
To begin our journey, we discussed the difference between the customary and metric system. Scientists and engineers use the metric system. When we are in STEM class we ARE scientist and engineers, so we also use the metric system. To build on a lesson taught in Art class, we identified and used the form names for our blocks. For example: rectangular prism, triangular prism, cube and cylinder. Using the correct form names, the students challenge was to built the tallest structure they could and measured the vertical height in centimeters. The tallest structure was built by three 2nd graders at 257 cm! The structure almost touched the ceiling!
Symmetry is all around us! Symmetry can be found in nature, art work, the alphabet and famous structures all around the world! We discussed three famous symmetrical structures, Taj Mahal in India, Tower Bridge in London, England and Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. We identified where the structures are located on a map and compared the location to where we live. The students challenge was to create a symmetrical structure with ONE line of symmetry while working together as a team. Some of our third and fourth graders took it a step further and demonstrated two lines of symmetry! Way to go STEM TEAM!
Can you find the lines of symmetry in the structures?
To begin our journey, we discussed the difference between the customary and metric system. Scientists and engineers use the metric system. When we are in STEM class we ARE scientist and engineers, so we also use the metric system. To build on a lesson taught in Art class, we identified and used the form names for our blocks. For example: rectangular prism, triangular prism, cube and cylinder. Using the correct form names, the students challenge was to built the tallest structure they could and measured the vertical height in centimeters. The tallest structure was built by three 2nd graders at 257 cm! The structure almost touched the ceiling!
Symmetry is all around us! Symmetry can be found in nature, art work, the alphabet and famous structures all around the world! We discussed three famous symmetrical structures, Taj Mahal in India, Tower Bridge in London, England and Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. We identified where the structures are located on a map and compared the location to where we live. The students challenge was to create a symmetrical structure with ONE line of symmetry while working together as a team. Some of our third and fourth graders took it a step further and demonstrated two lines of symmetry! Way to go STEM TEAM!
Can you find the lines of symmetry in the structures?