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Olive the Other Reindeer STEM Activity

Shared by Cathy Walker

Details

Space: 
inside
Time: 
1-2 hours
Subject: 
Science
Grades: 
3rd Grade
Key Terms: 
Length
inches
feet
yards
Gravity
speed
height
Weight
strength
direction
force
motion
Materials: 
3 pieces of paper scissors
tape
3 paper clips
1 Olive the dog cutout
1 piece of yarn (approx. 3 in long)
rulers and yard sticks
Olive the Other Reindeer by J. Otto Seibold

Lesson Overview

Teacher Overview:

Read Olive the Other Reindeer by J. Otto Seibold. After reading, students are challenged with the task of making Olive the dog fly the farthest distance.

Students will make Olive fly by attaching her to the bottom of a paper airplane using string and tape. To construct each paper airplane students will use 1 piece of paper, scissors, tape, and paper clips.

Allow students time to plan out their designs as a team. Give students approximately 30-40 minutes to construct and test their designs.

At the end of the activity, be sure to have students reflect on the effectiveness of each of their designs.

3-PS2-1 balanced and unbalanced forces

3-PS2-2 Make measurements to provide evidence for patterns and predict future motion

3-PS-2-4 Research the engineering design process

Student Summary: 

Now that we have read the book, please gather with your group and use the provided materials to build a mechanism to help Olive the dog fly the farthest distance.

Lesson Phases

Plan

Was it easy or difficult to come up with a design plan? Why?
Description: 
1. Discuss how you could use the provided materials to build a mechanism to help Olive the dog fly the farthest distance. 2. Draw and label a diagram of your idea. 3. Video and narrate your design.

Build & Test

Did you have to modify your first build? If so, why?
Description: 
1. Build your design. 2. Test your design. 3. Adjust/modify your design. 4. Repeat steps 2 & 3 until satisfied. 5. Video Olive in flight. 6. Measure the distance. 7. Narrate the video.

Reflection

Explain how you each worked as a team.
What strategies will you use next time to become more successful?
Description: 
1. Which style/design worked best for your team. 2. Why do think it worked well? 3. Video your best design and narrate using the vocabulary words provided.

Teacher Resources

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