Change in the Sand

A Third GradeSTEM Challenge

Scenario:

You are at the beach and drop your bag

just as you are going across the boardwalk. All of your coins and keys spill down into

the sand below.

ChallengeNow you

must design and build

something to retrieve your stuff without

getting off the

boardwalk. (You don't

want to disturb the

sand dunes!)

RequirementsStay on the boardwalk (which is 10 feet above the sand.)

Retrieve change and keys without retrieving sand along with it.

Demonstrate understanding of magnets and separating mixtures in your discussion, project log, and design.

Work as a team!

Materials:Cardboard tubes

StringMasking tape

MagnetsPails

SievesNettingPaperSandCoinsKeys

Ladder

Assessment:Goal 0 1 2

Effectiveness of Product

We were not able to pick up the coins and keys.

We were able to pick up the coins and keys but also picked up sand.

We were able to pick up the coins and keys

without picking up sand.

Group Work Our team did not get along at all.

Some members of our team did more work than

others.

Everyone shared the work load and made decisions together.

Understanding of Magnets

We did not mention magnets at all in our

discussion or project log.

We talked about magnets in our planning but did

not write about them in our project log.

We showed a thorough understanding of

magnets in both our conversation and our

project log.

Understanding of Separating Mixtures

We did not mention separating mixtures in

our discussion or project log.

We talked about separating mixtures in

our planning but did not write about it in our

project log.

We showed a thorough understanding of

magnets in both our conversation and our

project log.

Overall Score and Notes: