April 11, 2017 Jonathan Bacon

Chatham Lesson Plan Format

Type of Lesson: Science Bridge Materials

Grade: 5

Big Idea: Bridge building requires problem-solving strategies and critical thinking while connecting what is
taught in the classroom and real world applications. Sometimes, success in college and career requires
following rules (think of physics laws, Theory of Relativity), conforming to standards, and working as a group.

Essential Question: How can I use practical and theoretical knowledge to solve a problem?

Academic Standards: CCSS 3.4.5.C1 Explain how the design process is a purposeful method of planning
practical solutions to problems.
CCSS 3.4.5.C2 Describe how design, as a dynamic process of steps, can be performed in different sequences
and repeated.

Objective & Activity to Reach Objective: I will be able to determine the proper materials to use in
constructing our model bridges through using the design process.

Materials:
Science journal
Internet
SMARTboard
Steel samples
Concrete samples
Wood samples

Procedures:
Beginning/opening of Lesson:
Motivational Opening
o Ask students if they remember how various materials respond differently to different forces.
Activation of Prior Knowledge
o Was string good under compression or tension?
o Was a cotton ball strong to resist compression or tension?
Statement to the Students of New Learning That Will Occur
o Today, we will learn about the materials that are typically used on bridges and find substitutes
that we can use on our model bridges.

Middle of Lesson: (I DO, WE DO, YOU DO Model)

Direct Instruction (Modeling, etc.)
o Show students two samples of steel and concrete.
o Have students construct a word web for each of the three materials that describe the materials in
as much detail as possible.
o Talk with students to identify features of each of the materials that are used to construct actual
bridges.
Guided Practice
o Have students work to equate each of the three materials to materials that can be used on their
scale bridges.
E.M. Ashburn
April 11, 2017 Jonathan Bacon
Independent Practice
o Have students work to equate each of the three materials to materials that can be used on their
scale bridges.
Closing of Lesson (student summary):
Have students share out for the whole class on what materials they are planning on using as substitutes
for wood, steel, and concrete.

Evaluation (measurable):
Grade students on a scale of 1-5 for how complete their word webs are for the three different materials.
Complete informal assessment of students as they use features of the design process to hypothesize
about appropriate materials to use to construct their bridges.

Differentiation:
For students who had trouble learning the concepts:
o Provide scaffolding for students to understand features of different materials.
For the students who require a challenge:
o Ask students to research more model bridge material options.

E.M. Ashburn