Mrs. Small’s third grade class did a STEAM challenge to finish up our science unit on weather.
On day one: students were given the material list: cup or water, 3 ice cubes, 1 tbsp of salt, and 1 ft of string. The challenge was to “fish” and ice cube out of the cup using only the materials given, not their hands. They came up with a written/sketched plan.
Day two the students were able to pair up and try out their ideas, making note of wether it worked or not. If it worked they were asked to write down why they think it worked, If it didn’t work they were asked to write what they would change tomorrow.
Day 3: the students will be given the opportunity to try again and watch a video explaining why it works. This will be followed by a short discussion on how salt and ice effects our own lives and how this connects to our weather unit. At the end they will be asked to write a sentence of two on the back of their STEM papers explaining why we use salt on the roads in the winter.
The activity has several purposes.
SWBAT plan and test scientific ideas
SWBAT discuss their scientific thinking
SWBAT see and hear how salt works to break down ice
SWBAT write a scientific explanation of why we use salt on the roads in the winter.
