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Practice for PSSA

30 Minutes
(OPtional)

Objective: 

• Students will complete a pre-assessment.

Materials Needed:

• Pre-assessments (Worksheet - Test)

Introduction: Let students know that they will begin their lessons using the NoRILLA machine. Today they will complete their pre-assessment to show what they already know.

• Some students will take pre-assessment A, while others will take pre-assessment B.

• Students complete their pre-assessment.

WorkSheetS

Older pre-assessment (A)

30-45 Minutes

Worksheets

Lesson Objectives:

• Articulate information about earthquakes and their effects.

• Describe the PLAY Mode of the NoRILLA.

• Apply the scientific method: predict-observe-explain cycle, introducing vocabulary.

Materials Needed:

• NoRILLA

• Pre-built blocks

30-45 minutes

Lesson Objectives:

• Operate NoRILLA in Play Mode.

• Articulate information about the work of civil engineers and architects.

• Provide definitions or descriptions of vocabulary words.

• Predict the outcome and support the predictions, then test a structure for stability.

• Discuss the results of their structure when shaken using appropriate terminology.

Materials Needed:

• NoRILLA

• One of the literatures

  • The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires

  • Rosie Revere Engineer by Andrea Baety

  • Iggy Peck Architect by Andrea Baety

• White board for gathering student ideas (optional)

• Vocabulary words in print

• Folder with printed contrasting cases in wipe off sheets

30-45 minutes

Lesson Objectives:

• Students will interact with play mode.

• Students will think interdependently (flexible) by working together to complete a task.

• Students will manage their impulsivity.

• Students will use precise and clear communication skills.

Materials Needed:

• NoRILLA

• Pre-built blocks

• Drawing paper

• Crayons, markers, etc. 

• Building materials such as snap cubes, LEGOs, cardboard, Keva Planks, Lincoln Logs, Magnatiles, Bristle Blocks, Monkey blocks, Kinetic Sand

• Rosie Revere Engineer

worksheets

Lesson Objectives:

• Students will interact with play mode.

• Students will think interdependently (flexible) by working together to complete a task.

• Students will manage their impulsivity.

• Students will use precise and clear communication skills.

Materials Needed:

• NoRILLA

• Pre-built blocks

• Drawing paper

• Crayons

• Markers

• Building materials such as snap cubes, LEGOs, cardboard, Keva Planks, Lincoln Logs, Magnatiles, Bristle Blocks, Monkey blocks, Kinetic Sand

30-45 minutes

Lesson Objectives:

• Students will observe the procedures of NoRILLA.

• Students will complete TEST MY TOWER.

• Students will think interdependently (flexible) by working together to complete a task.

• Students will manage their impulsivity.

• Students will use precise and clear communication skills.

Materials Needed:

• NoRILLA

• LEGOs

• YouTube video

Closure: Share what students found to be interesting, intriguing, even challenging about this lesson. Recap/discuss today's lesson. Let your civil engineers know that next time they will begin brainstorming and designing their own structures to withstand an earthquake.

Lesson Plan in Action

40 minute

Lesson Objectives:

• Students will review the procedures of NoRILLA.

• Students will rotate through TEST MY TOWER.

• Students will record attempts and times for TEST MY TOWER.

• Students will test structure height vs an earthquake.

• Students will think interdependently (flexible) by working together to complete a task.

• Students will manage their impulsivity.

• Students will use precise and clear communication skills.

Materials Needed:

• NoRILLA,building materials such as snap cubes, LEGOs, cardboard, Keva Planks, Lincoln Logs, Magnatiles, Bristle Blocks, Monkey blocks, Kinetic Sand

• Ruler

• Books to place buildings on

• Tower challenge worksheet

• Height worksheet

Closure: Share what students found to be interesting, intriguing, even challenging about this lesson. Recap/discuss today's lesson. Let your civil engineers know that next time they will begin brainstorming and designing their own structures to withstand an earthquake.

Worksheets

40 minute

Lesson Objectives:

• Students will review the procedures of NoRILLA.

• Students will rotate through TEST MY TOWER.

• Students will record attempts and times for TEST MY TOWER.

• Students will test structure base vs an earthquake.

• Students will think interdependently (flexible) by working together to complete a task.

• Students will manage their impulsivity.

• Students will use precise and clear communication skills.

Materials Needed:

• NoRILLA,building materials such as snap cubes, LEGOs, cardboard, Keva Planks, Lincoln Logs, Magnatiles, Bristle Blocks, Monkey blocks, Kinetic Sand,

• Ruler

• Books to place structures on

• Tower challenge worksheet,

• Base Worksheet

worksheets

40 minute

Lesson Objectives:

• Students will construct a building to withstand an earthquake.

• Students will participate in COMPETE mode on the NoRILLA with a partner.

• Students will display perseverance while completing a task.

• Students will think interdependently (flexible) by working together to complete a task.

• Students will manage their impulsivity.

• Students will use precise and clear communication skills.

Materials Needed:

• NoRILLA

• Building materials such as snap cubes, LEGOs, cardboard, Keva Planks, Lincoln Logs, Magnatiles, Bristle Blocks, Monkey blocks, Kinetic Sand

• Books to place structures on.

• Famous structures worksheet

Worksheets

40 minutes

Lesson Objectives:

• Students will review the procedures of NoRILLA.

• Students will build a structure that will withstand a 5 second earthquake.

• Students will iterate their structure.

• Students will think interdependently (flexible) by working together to complete a task.

• Students will manage their impulsivity.

• Students will use precise and clear communication skills.

Materials Needed:

• NoRILLA

• Ruler

• Snap cubes

• Bristle blocks

• LEGOs

• Plain paper for drawing

• Writing paper for compete mode

40 minutes

Lesson Objectives:

• Students will review the procedures of NoRILLA.

• Students will build a structure that will withstand a 5 second earthquake.

• Students will iterate their structure.

• Students will think interdependently (flexible) by working together to complete a task.

• Students will manage their impulsivity.

• Students will use precise and clear communication skills.

Materials Needed:

• NoRILLA

• Ruler

• Snap cubes

• Bristle blocks

• LEGOs

• Plain paper for drawing

• Writing paper for compete mode

40 minutes

Lesson Objectives:

• Apply the Engineering Design Process.

• Build structure from models.

• Compare shapes of models.

• Communicate their thoughts about the concepts related to stability.

• Determine the impact of aspects of shape on stability.

• Demonstrate responsible use of technology.

• Record and evaluate data generated through experimentation.

• Evaluate the use of a model to represent natural world structures.

Materials Needed:

• NoRILLA

• Small paper cups

• Ruler

• Materials to keep cups together (tape, glue, string, rubber bands, etc.)

40 minutes

Lesson Objectives:

• Apply the Scientific Method.

• Build structure from models.

• Compare shapes of models.

• Communicate their thoughts about the concepts related to stability.

• Determine the impact of aspects of shape on stability.

• Demonstrate responsible use of technology.

• Evaluating the use of a model to represent natural world structures.

Materials Needed:

• NoRILLA

• Duplo blocks

• Duplo alphabet cards

• Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault

• Using the Scientific Method worksheet from Lesson 2 (Optional for older students)

40 Minutes

Lesson Objectives:

• Apply the Engineering Design Process

• Build structure from models.

• Compare shapes of models.

• Communicate their thoughts about the concepts related to stability.

• Determine the impact of aspects of shape on stability.

• Demonstrate responsible use of technology.

• Evaluating the use of a model to represent natural world structures.

Materials Needed:

• NoRILLA

• Recycled cardboard boxes

• Variety of recycled materials

• Craft paper

• Eyes

• Tape/glue

• Pipe cleaners

• Markers

• Cardboard

40 minutes

Lesson Objectives:

• Apply the Engineering Design Process.

• Build structure from models.

• Compare shapes of models.

• Communicate their thoughts about the concepts related to stability.

• Determine the impact of aspects of shape on stability.

Materials Needed:

• NoRILLA

• Duplo blocks

• Duplo tree cards

• Paper plates

• Toilet paper rolls

• Tissue paper

40 Minutes

Lesson Objectives:

• Apply the Engineering Design Process

• Build structure from models.

• Compare shapes of models.

• Communicate their thoughts about the concepts related to stability.

• Determine the impact of aspects of shape on stability.

• Demonstrate responsible use of technology.

• Evaluating the use of a model to represent natural world structures.

• Identify likely reasons for the instability of a structure.

• Improve the stability of a structure based on results in testing.

Materials Needed:

• NoRILLA

• Bins of different building blocks, like Duplo, Lincoln Logs, Unit blocks

• Books: The Three Little Pigs and/or Los Tres Pequenos Jabalies by Susan Lowell.

• Optional: Pig Noses (made from egg cartons; see Extensions)

• Optional: Using the Scientific Method worksheet from Lesson 2

40 minutes

Lesson Objectives: 

• Operate NoRILLA in COMPETE Mode

• Practice evaluating failures of structures to behave as desired as a scientific process.

• Build and test a specific variety of structures with features that will impact their stability.

• Predict the outcome when shaking the created structures and support the predictions, then test the structure for stability.

• Discuss the results of their structure when shaken using appropriate terminology.

• Optional for older students: Build their own structures using features they believe will increase stability

Materials Needed:

• NoRILLA

• Paper (printed Maker Worksheet)

• Glue dots or glue

• Scissors

• Color pencils/crayons or paint

• Resource to view videos

• “How to make a pop up paper village” video

• Optional: means for students to record or take photos

40 minutes

Lesson Objectives: 

• Apply the Engineering Design Process.

• Build structure from models.

• Compare shapes of models.

• Communicate their thoughts about the concepts related to stability.

• Determine the impact of aspects of shape on stability.

• Demonstrate responsible use of technology.

• Evaluate the use of a model to represent natural world structures.

Materials Needed:

• NoRILLA

• Craft paper

• Glue dots or glue

• Scissors

• Paints

• Markers

• Cardstock

• Recycled cardboard boxes

• Variety of recycled materials

• Engineering Design Process Graphics

• Books to read:

  • Snowmen at Play by Caralyn Buehner and Mark Buehner

  • 100 Snowmen by Jen Arena and Stephen Gilpin

40 minutes

Lesson Objectives:

• Interact with the EXPLORE Mode

• Build structure from models.

• Compare shapes of models.

• Communicate their thoughts about the concepts related to stability.

• Determine the impact of aspects of shape on stability.

• Demonstrate responsible use of technology.

• Use the scientific method to predict, observe and explain
  

Materials Needed:

• NoRILLA

• Paper hats and/or birthday hats

• Hat stand

• For extension, hats from home

60 minutes 

Lesson Objectives:

• Operate NoRILLA in TEST MY TOWER Mode Mode

• Design and build a structure using concepts that impact the stability of a structure such as height, base width, symmetry.

• Predict the outcome and support the predictions, then test the structure for stability.

• Discuss the results of their structure when shaken using appropriate terminology.lsivity.

• Students will use precise and clear communication skills.

Materials Needed:

• Rosie Revere Engineer by Andrea Baety

• Maker building materials (e.g. toilet paper tubes, styrofoam)

• Scissors

• Tape

• Glue

• Engineering design process graphic

40 minutes

Lesson Objectives:

• Operate NoRILLA in TEST MY TOWER Mode Mode

• Build structures to match pictures, then test for stability.

• Record the dimensions of the structure on a bar graph.

• Discuss the impact of height and base on the ability of a structure to withstand shaking based on observation and discussion in class.

Materials Needed:

• NoRILLA

• Bar Graph worksheet

• Legos®

• Pencils, crayons, or markers.

worksheets

40 minutes

Lesson Objectives:

• Operate NoRILLA in TEST MY TOWER Mode Mode

• Build structures to match diagrams, then test structures for stability.

• Find patterns in recorded data.

• Record data and calculate ratios based on experiments.

• Discuss the impact of height on the ability of a structure to withstand shaking based on observation and discussion in class.

• Optional: determine height/width ratio of structures.

Materials Needed:

• NoRILLA

• Legos®

• Ratio worksheet (a second one is available for older students)

Worksheets

30 minutes

Lesson Objectives:

• Students will complete a post-assessment.

Materials Needed:

• Post-assessments A and B.

Introduction:

Let students know that they have completed their lessons using the NoRILLA machine. Today they will complete their post-assessment to show what they have learned (you can find the pre and post assessments in the Appendix section at the end of the book).

Older post-assessment (B)