Computational Thinking: Decomposition and Design for Grades 6-8
Lesson Title: Egg-cellent Egg Drop
Grade Levels: 6-8
Length of Lesson: 120 minutes
Overview: Students work in groups to design solutions to for an egg-drop experiment. They will use an iterative process to test and modify their solutions.
Standards Alignment:
Science
- Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions.
- Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.
- Analyze data from tests to determine similarities and differences among several design solutions to identify the best characteristics of each that can be combined into a new solution to better meet the criteria for success.
- Develop a model to generate data for iterative testing and modification of a proposed object, tool, or process such that an optimal design can be achieved.
Social and Emotional Learning
- Identify and apply ways to persevere or overcome barriers through alternative methods to achieve one’s goals
- Utilize positive communication and social skills to interact effectively with others
Computer Science
- Develop resilience and perseverance when approaching CS and CT learning experiences, build comfort with ambiguity and open-ended problems, and see failure as an opportunity to learn and innovate.
- Decompose problems and subproblems into parts to facilitate the design, implementation, and review of programs
- Seek and incorporate feedback from team members and users to refine a solution that meets user needs.
