Design Process in First Grade

Since we started using the provincial report card some years back, teachers have really had to intentionally teach their students about the design process. I've kind of simplified the way that I teach the process. I try to do one big design project each term (so three a year), but often other little STEM lessons or mini projects also use this format, just a bit less formal.

The six general steps for the scientific design process are: (1) recognize a problem (this is usually teacher led, but sometimes students come up with their own ideas!), (2) create a plan (this can be brainstorming ideas, drawing a detailed picture/plan, and creating a list of criteria), (3) construct the object (I collect A LOT of recycled materials to use for this, as well as various craft supplies), (4) test the object (does it meet the criteria? does it work?), (5) make improvements (if it doesn't work or if you just want it to work better), and (6) communicate results (this can be a turn and talk with a partner, uploading a picture or video to Seesaw, checking off a checklist, etc.). 

We have had so much fun with some of our projects throughout the year! Here's a peak at a few of them. I usually do three major projects a year, so I don't always do one from each cluster. It just depends on the order that I do them in. Here's a look at some of our design projects throughout the years...

Cluster 1: Characteristics and Needs of Living Things

This is the design project from my First Grade Interactive Science Journals: Living Things unit. I've done it with my classes a few times, but I could not find any pictures of them! One time we made them to go with our non-fiction writing project--students designed the habitat for their living thing and had to include things like food, water, and shelter. 

This is another project we did. We were learning about the characteristics of insects and created some "litterbugs" out of recycled materials for Earth Day. I put out a bunch of recycled materials such as cardboard tubes, small milk cartons, packing peanuts from an old package, old plastic lids, scrap paper, newspaper, etc. They had to design an insect using recycled materials that had all the parts of an insect (such as antennae and six legs). You can download the recording sheets for free from {here}. There's a single page version or an interactive journal version, as well as the large insect and labels.

Cluster 2: The Senses

This one has been challenging, but in the past we have done two different things: made sunglasses to protect our eyes (students had to choose an appropriate material to use to make their lenses) or design something to protect one of your senses (sunglasses, earmuffs, mittens, etc.). You can find three different versions of the recording sheets in my First Grade Interactive Science Journal: The Five Senses unit. Here's a look at our devices for protecting our senses:

Cluster 3: Characteristics of Objects and Materials

This is one of my favourite units to do because you can pretty much tie any sort of project to it. I often tie this project into a favourite book or character. 

One of our projects was to build a comfy chair for the pigeon stuffy. We received an email from the Pigeon asking us to make him a new, comfy chair. I put out the craft stuff, had them design their chair, then build it and test it with the stuffed pigeon! You can downloading the recording sheets for free from {here}.

Another project we have done is build a house for the three little pigs. We used little Lego people with pig masks and a blow dryer disguised as the wolf. Students built a house, put the pigs in it, and try to see if it will stand up the wolf! You can download the recording sheet for free from {here}.

Another favourite project is reading the story "The Day the Crayons Quit" and making a crayon box for a pack of 24 crayons. There is a similar activity in my First Grade Interactive Science Journal: Objects and Materials unit about holding pencils, but you can download the crayon activity for free {here}.

We brought the Pigeon back for another project. This time we read the story "Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late!" and build a bed for the sleepy Pigeon. Find the freebie recording sheets {here}.

Last year I gave all my students their own little puppy reading buddy at the beginning of the year. I got them from Oriental Trading. For our design project, my students had to build something useful for their reading buddy. We had houses, beds, clothing, toys, leashes--lots of creative ideas! You can download the free recording sheets from {here}.

Another activity we have done is for the Gingerbread Man. Students had to build something to get the Gingerbread Man across the river safely--a bridge or a boat! This Gingerbread Man STEM activity is available on TpT for free {here}.

Cluster 4: Daily and Seasonal Changes

One of the design projects we have done in our seasons unit is to build bird feeders. We made a criteria list together--it had to have a spot for the birds to get the seeds, a cover or top so the seeds wouldn't get wet, it had to be strong enough to hold the food, and it had to be able to hang on a tree branch. We tested our bird feeders inside by having them hang on a metre stick with some bird seed in it. You can find this recording sheet in my First Grade Interactive Science Journal: Weather and Seasons unit. 

This idea came from Mrs. Meyer's Kindergarten. They also used cardboard tubes to make their animals. It wasn't really a "problem" they had to solve, but it was a design project. We had been studying how people, animals, and plants prepare for winter. We learned about animals who hibernate, migrate, and adapt to 

This was a super fun project! I found some instructions on Pinterest on how to make a wind tunnel. I used clear poster board, wooden embroidery hoops, a circular fan (that can tilt upwards), and a stand built out of wood (although this broke my second year and I just ended up using stacks of plastic bins). We made a list of all the things that fly or float in the air. Students had to design and build an object that would float or fly in the wind tunnel. It was pretty fun! We used lots of balloons, tissue papers, and feathers for these wind devices. You can download the anchor chart pieces and recording sheets for free {here}

I hope these give you some ideas. Happy designing, scientists!

Breakout EDU... What Is It??

Hey folks! I'm back again to share with you an AMAZING new activity I learned about this past year. Have you ever heard of Escape Rooms? You essentially get locked in a room and need to solve puzzles and riddles in order to escape the room in the time limit. There's usually a story to go with it like you are trying to escape death row or break into the bank. They are soooo much fun and are popping up all over the place! Love them!

Anywho, Breakout EDU takes the idea of an escape room and applies it to the classroom. Instead of escaping a room though, they need to "break into" a locked box. Basically there is a large box that is locked by a few different types of locks and they need to solve puzzles in order to open the different locks. These games are amazing for working on critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration, and communication. They can also be used with any grade level or subject area. There are puzzles already created for grades Pre-K to Adult level and in every subject area.

Check out the website by clicking here or the logo below. If you "Register for Access", you will get a password and access to TONS of ideas and games. Check it out!

Here's an introduction video of what Breakout EDU is all about:

To start with, you need a Breakout Kit. You can buy them from the site for $125US each. In the kit you will get the following: a large Breakout Box, a small Breakout Box, a hasp, hint cards and reflection cards, a 5-arrow directional lock, a 5-letter word lock, a UV marker and flashlight, a USB drive, a key and lock, a 3-digit lock, and a 4-digit lock. Click here or the picture below to check them out:

If you want to make your own kit, you can check out Walmart, Home Depot, Dollar Tree, Canadian Tire, and Amazon to find all of your Breakout kit needs! You basically need a large toolbox or other container that a lock or hasp can be put on and another smaller lockable box or pouch. Then you need a variety of different locks, a UV marker, and a blacklight flashlight,. If you click here or the images below, you can find the doc with links to Amazon to purchase these materials.

You can have one kit for the entire group (there are many different explanations on how to run a game with one kit, ie. the "ticket system") or a few kits to do your breakouts in small groups. I have four kits.

Here is a game that I designed and ran with some second and first grade classes. It was based on the book "The Mitten" by Jan Brett. Each Breakout starts with a story, so mine was the animals found Nikki's mitten and did not want to give it back, so they locked it up in a box. Nikki needs to break into the box and get the mitten before he has to get home to Baba.

I divided the class into four groups. So each group had a table with the large locked toolbox (the hasp allows for six locks to be used on one box--we only used four with this game), the small locked pouch, two hint cards (to give to me if they were really stuck), a code recording sheet (to write down the codes they figured out), and a lock parking lot to place the opened locks (to prevent locks from getting broken, reset, or mixed up). I colour-coded my four groups, but that's not necessary. I just like things to be colour-coded. lol

Around the room were other clues and puzzles for them to use and solve.

There was a timer for 45 minutes on the projector. You can find different timers on YouTube here. My favourite is the Breakout Timer with Suspenseful Music.

They had to find a key to get into the smaller pouch which had more clues and puzzle pieces to help them get into the big box.

They had to work together and really think critically to solve the problems.

When they got all the locks off the box, inside was the white mitten, Breakout stickers, and a sign. No prizes, no candy, no treats. Just the satisfaction of completing the puzzles and getting into the box. Actually the stickers were a big hit, but every group was super proud of their accomplishments.

And just like in the tradition of escape rooms, you get to take a group photo with some "We did it!" signs. (I do have signs for groups that don't breakout... but they're still positive and fun like "We almost broke out!" and "So close!") Even if groups don't succeed, they are still amazed by how much they accomplished and can't wait to do another one!

My cute, laminated, hot glued labels did not last a full-day with ones and twos, so I pulled out the Cricut and cut out some cute vinyl labels for my boxes. Love them!!

If you want to check out more about "The Mitten" Breakout, you can watch my set up video here and download all the documents here. I've submitted the game to be reviewed, so hopefully it makes it to the official site! Until then, go register and take a look at all the amazing games out there! I did the "Elf" Christmas game with my family over the holidays and then used the game "The Faculty Meeting" when I presented to staff in my division about Breakout EDU.

Also, if you want more resources or ideas join the Facebook groups: Breakout EDU (General Discussion) and Breakout EDU Elementary Teachers. Leave any questions you have in the comments or send me an email: firstgradegarden@gmail.com And please take a few seconds to answer the questions below: