May 9 @ SAT : Material play
Duration: 3 hours
Time: 10am - 1pm
Location: SAT
Facilitators: Priyanka, Sahil, Anam, Laura
Illustrations by: Irushi Tennekoon
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Lesson Objectives
By the end of this workshop, students will have:
Explored group dynamics and collaboration
Explore materials and their qualities
Explore structures and forces physically in space.
Negotiate with each other and made decisions
Prototype in a safe space without worrying
You will need:
For Warm up:
A tray of sand (even going outside to try this is ok)
Books from the library (to use as weights)
Ekel sticks or reed sticks - something suitable to Sharjah that doesn’t look like it has firmness on it’s own
For Main Activity:
Some dice to roll
Fabric
Reed / ekel sticks
String (Jute)
Sand or clay
Cardboard
Paper
Water
Recycled plastic bottles
Craft supplies: Scissors, Tape, glue, Stapler, ruler
Sketch supplies: pencil, pen, eraser, sketchbook
Program Summary:
Our challenge today is to test out combinations and arrangements materials that look flimsy on it’s own, but can be very strong when assembled a certain way. for example, if you fold a paper it will be strong.
Extra points for the team that uses the LEAST material to hold up the MOST weight; as well as for increased capacity for delight and joy.
Warm up: Reed Stick strength challenge (20 mins): (iratu= ekel)
Divide class into 3-4 teams
Ask them to insert a bunch of sticks in the sand and see if they can make a book hold up.
What is the limit? See how many books will hold up.
Walk around SAT (10-20 mins)
If you do this workshop outside, take a meandering 10 minute route back to class, and observe various natural and manmade materials created to hold weight (bench), provide shade (SAT participant canopies, trees) or span a great length (lightweight roof truss) or height (water tower). A triangle is the strongest shape in nature. Where can you notice triangles on the tour?
Snack break can be during demonstration of materials and forces :)
Main Activity: (1.5 hour)
Step 1: if you feel short of time, skips this and just introduce verbally.
Physical demonstration of forces: Every structure holds weight the same two ways — pulling or pushing. A rope pulls tight: that's tension. A column gets squeezed: that's compression. Most structures use both at the same time, in different places.
Ask; ‘we need a few volunteers to help us demonstrate forces.Tension, Compression, beam, arch as indicated. If kids are uncomfortable with touch, you can also ask them to pull a rope or carry some books with their arms outstretched.
Step 2: Divide the class into 3-4 groups. Teams of 3-4 children is ideal. Mix up schools as much as possible.
Step 3: We’ll roll a dice for each group. The group with the lowest number gets to choose a material activity first, then the next lowest goes next, and so on.
Team 1: Turn the Arrish/ reed palm into a bridge with only strings and glue as the binder. Can it hold the weight of a water bottle?
Team 2: Use sand and one other material to build a freestanding wall or tower that holds its shape.
Team 3: Use fabric to create shelter or shade, that can resist a strong wind by a fan. Combine it with other materials as needed.
Team 4: Use folded, pleated or rolled paper to build a structure that can hold a book. Your team decides what to build. (it can be a wall, a tower, etc)
Team 5: Use cardboard and any binding material (glue, tape or string) to make a seat that can hold a stack of books. (5kg)
Step 4: Time to make! Play music. One adult should be a part of each team, but rotate every 20 minutes
Inspo for Facilitators: (some of these are also on a slideshow)
Conclusion:
At the end of the class, let’s have a round of demonstrations. Teams present their ideas and what they discovered. Keep prompting the kids to continue speaking by saying phrases like ‘yes, and…?’ and asking questions.