The children and I are so excited to be the first in Slingerlands Elementary School to pilot an EIE (Engineering is Elementary) Unit in lieu of the Plant Growth Unit that has been taught in the past.  My fellow 3rd grade colleague,  Mrs. Paradis, and I spent a day at BOCES working with a trainer from the Museum of Science in Boston, Massachusetts.  The unit is built around the engineering design process and also focuses on engineering literacy using stories from characters around the world (great for our world communities focus in social studies)!  We will begin our official engineering Unit after the winter break, but I gave the children an engineering challenge today to get them thinking about...What is an engineer?  Most children drew pictures of a MAN with a tool in his hand fixing an engine of some sort!!! Very interesting misconception...
Please check out the EIE website for more information:  http://www.eie.org

The Candy Corn Tower Challenge!

With Your Partner.. Plan & Design a Free-Standing Structure

You May Only Use the Materials Provided

100 Toothpicks and a Cupful of Candy Corn

You May Have as Much Time as You Need to Plan with Your Partner & Design a Sketch

However, You Will Only Have 15 Minutes to Build

You May Modify Your Design as You Work

Pay Attention to Other Engineering Teams & the Techniques that Seem to Work

The Winning Team Shall Be the Ones Who Build the Tallest Structure!

The Winning Team!!!