This is a fun activity for any grade near the end of the school year. I challenged my students with building a connecting structure (e.g. bridge or tunnel) or an obstacle course within a 20 minute time limit for a robot ball (Sphero) to navigate. The only instructions I gave were that they had to work in a group collaboratively.
With an online timer presented on an interactive whiteboard (a favorite is Spaceship Blast Off) they took off towards the opposite classroom corners where I placed oddball supplies (tape, glue, scissors, cardboard pieces, building straws and connectors, ramps, dominoes, play-doh – you name it).
It wasn’t important how the final product looked or if it “failed.” I wanted them to strategize, collaborate and problem-solve. When the timer buzzed they took turns experimenting to see which structures held. They had so much fun.
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