Novel Engineering Lesson: The Water Lady
Lesson Overview
- Objective: Learning engineering, robotics, and literacy together
- Recommended grade level: 4th-6th grade
- Time to complete: 2 hours
Materials needed
- LEGO SPIKE Prime Kit
- Laptop with either LEGO SPIKE coding software OR access into internet and chrome browser for LEGO SPIKE website
- The Water Lady by Alice B. McGinty (Illustrations by Shonto Begay)
- Copy of Lesson Slides for structuring activity
- (Optional) Craft materials, such as string and construction paper.
Novel Engineering
This lesson is based on an approach to integrated literacy and engineering called Novel Engineering. Resources for learning this approach can be found at the provided link, but the Lesson Slides will provide guidance on how to run the lesson even for those new to Novel. The main idea is that the story provides authentic, character-centered context for identifying problems and bounding what solutions are possible. Solution diversity is expected and encouraged!
Example solution
Suggestions for modifying lesson
- To get started: Have students focus collectively on one character while naming problems, criteria, constraints, and potential solutions. This can help narrow the focus. The flip side is it may result in less solution diversity.
- To add a bit of personality: Have students decorate their solutions using craft materials!
- To integrate knowledge and research: Pause between planning it and building it steps. Have students discuss the story and potential solutions with family or other knowledgeable elders.