Quick Look 
- Grade Level:
- 7 (6 – 8)
- Time Required:
- 1 hours 30 minutes
(over two days)
- Group Size:
- 3
- Subject Areas:
-
Earth and Space -
NGSS Performance Expectations:
MS-ESS2-2 MS-ETS1-1 MS-ETS1-2
Summary
Continuing the Asteroid Impact challenge, student teams analyze their data and commit to final decisions on the locations they recommend for locating safe underground cavern shelters for the citizens of Alabraska. They prepare and deliver final presentations to the class to explain and defend their final recommendations.Engineering Connection
In the real world, engineering teams spend much time researching and analyzing so they have the information needed to select the best design option. Then, communication is critical. Engineers routinely prepare final reports and give presentations to clients and customers to explain and defend their recommended design solutions.
Learning Objectives
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Analyze data from several days' worth of work to make a final decision.
- Use experimental data and logic to explain and defend a decision/recommendation.
- Communicate to an audience via a formal presentation.
Educational Standards
Each TeachEngineering lesson or activity is correlated to one or more K-12 science,
technology, engineering or math (STEM) educational standards.
All 100,000+ K-12 STEM standards covered in TeachEngineering are collected, maintained and packaged by the Achievement Standards Network (ASN),
a project of D2L (www.achievementstandards.org).
In the ASN, standards are hierarchically structured: first by source; e.g., by state; within source by type; e.g., science or mathematics;
within type by subtype, then by grade, etc.
Each TeachEngineering lesson or activity is correlated to one or more K-12 science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) educational standards.
All 100,000+ K-12 STEM standards covered in TeachEngineering are collected, maintained and packaged by the Achievement Standards Network (ASN), a project of D2L (www.achievementstandards.org).
In the ASN, standards are hierarchically structured: first by source; e.g., by state; within source by type; e.g., science or mathematics; within type by subtype, then by grade, etc.
NGSS: Next Generation Science Standards - Science
| NGSS Performance Expectation | ||
|---|---|---|
|
MS-ESS2-2. Construct an explanation based on evidence for how geoscience processes have changed Earth's surface at varying time and spatial scales. (Grades 6 - 8) Do you agree with this alignment? |
||
| Click to view other curriculum aligned to this Performance Expectation | ||
| This activity focuses on the following Three Dimensional Learning aspects of NGSS: | ||
| Science & Engineering Practices | Disciplinary Core Ideas | Crosscutting Concepts |
| Construct a scientific explanation based on valid and reliable evidence obtained from sources (including the students' own experiments) and the assumption that theories and laws that describe the natural world operate today as they did in the past and will continue to do so in the future. Alignment agreement: | The planet's systems interact over scales that range from microscopic to global in size, and they operate over fractions of a second to billions of years. These interactions have shaped Earth's history and will determine its future. Alignment agreement: Water's movements—both on the land and underground—cause weathering and erosion, which change the land's surface features and create underground formations.Alignment agreement: | Time, space, and energy phenomena can be observed at various scales using models to study systems that are too large or too small. Alignment agreement: |
| NGSS Performance Expectation | ||
|---|---|---|
|
MS-ETS1-1. 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. (Grades 6 - 8) Do you agree with this alignment? |
||
| Click to view other curriculum aligned to this Performance Expectation | ||
| This activity focuses on the following Three Dimensional Learning aspects of NGSS: | ||
| Science & Engineering Practices | Disciplinary Core Ideas | Crosscutting Concepts |
| Define a design problem that can be solved through the development of an object, tool, process or system and includes multiple criteria and constraints, including scientific knowledge that may limit possible solutions. Alignment agreement: | The more precisely a design task's criteria and constraints can be defined, the more likely it is that the designed solution will be successful. Specification of constraints includes consideration of scientific principles and other relevant knowledge that is likely to limit possible solutions. Alignment agreement: | All human activity draws on natural resources and has both short and long-term consequences, positive as well as negative, for the health of people and the natural environment. Alignment agreement: The uses of technologies and any limitations on their use are driven by individual or societal needs, desires, and values; by the findings of scientific research; and by differences in such factors as climate, natural resources, and economic conditions.Alignment agreement: |
| NGSS Performance Expectation | ||
|---|---|---|
|
MS-ETS1-2. Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem. (Grades 6 - 8) Do you agree with this alignment? |
||
| Click to view other curriculum aligned to this Performance Expectation | ||
| This activity focuses on the following Three Dimensional Learning aspects of NGSS: | ||
| Science & Engineering Practices | Disciplinary Core Ideas | Crosscutting Concepts |
| Evaluate competing design solutions based on jointly developed and agreed-upon design criteria. Alignment agreement: | There are systematic processes for evaluating solutions with respect to how well they meet the criteria and constraints of a problem. Alignment agreement: | |
International Technology and Engineering Educators Association - Technology
-
Modeling, testing, evaluating, and modifying are used to transform ideas into practical solutions.
(Grades
6 -
8)
More Details
Do you agree with this alignment?
-
Interpret the accuracy of information collected.
(Grades
6 -
8)
More Details
Do you agree with this alignment?
-
Develop innovative products and systems that solve problems and extend capabilities based on individual or collective needs and wants.
(Grades
6 -
8)
More Details
Do you agree with this alignment?
-
Use instruments to gather data on the performance of everyday products.
(Grades
6 -
8)
More Details
Do you agree with this alignment?
-
Critue whether existing and proposed technologies use resources sustainably.
(Grades
9 -
12)
More Details
Do you agree with this alignment?
State Standards
Colorado - Science
-
Develop and communicate an evidence based scientific explanation around one or more factors that change Earth's surface
(Grade
5)
More Details
Do you agree with this alignment?
-
Analyze and interpret data identifying ways Earth's surface is constantly changing through a variety of processes and forces such as plate tectonics, erosion, deposition, solar influences, climate, and human activity
(Grade
5)
More Details
Do you agree with this alignment?
-
Gather, analyze, and communicate data that explains Earth's plates, plate motions, and the results of plate motions
(Grade
7)
More Details
Do you agree with this alignment?
Materials List
- Drum Roll Please! Worksheet
- Design Presentation and Report Guidelines
- paper and scissors, to make final cavern cutouts; alternatively, use the ones students created during activity 4 of the unit
- (optional) computers with Microsoft® PowerPoint® application, for slide presentation creation; alternatively, paper, markers and posterboard
- (optional) large-size Alabraska Poster Map to post or project at the front of the classroom
- sticky notes or stars, to identify cavern locations on the big map
Worksheets and Attachments
Visit [www.teachengineering.org/activities/view/csm_asteroid_lesson7_activity1_tg] to print or download.Pre-Req Knowledge
If available, encourage students to use Microsoft® PowerPoint® to create their presentations. This requires some familiarity with the PowerPoint application.
Introduction/Motivation
You have all worked hard to decide the best place for the cavern. The governor of Alabraska will choose only one location though, and she will base her decision on your presentations!
Procedure
Before the Activity
- Gather materials and make copies of the Drum Roll Please! Worksheet and Design Presentation and Report Guidelines.
- Make available computers, software or other materials to support the presentation and report preparation. If possible, have students prepare their presentations using Microsoft PowerPoint software.
- During the presentations, have the Alabraska Poster Map in the front of the classroom, or make available some other way for teams to reference the big map.
With the Students
- Day 1: Start by discussing today's objectives: Today you will analyze your data and make a final decision, figure out how to defend that decision, and prepare a class presentation to explain it.
- Pass out the handouts. Review the report and presentation guidelines with students.
- Give students time to work in their groups, writing a final report and preparing a presentation, guided by the worksheet and guidelines handouts. Facilitate as necessary.
- Make sure all teams have made cavern cutouts to put on the big map at the front of the room before they give their presentations (or some other way to illustrate this information to the class).
- Require reports and presentations to be finished by the end of the class period, or assigned as homework, to be completed by Day 2 of this activity.
- Day 2: Have student engineering teams give their presentations to the class. Call each group individually to place its cutout on the big map and give its presentation.
- After each group presents, leave several minutes for Q&A.
Assessment
Worksheet: Review students' written reports on the Drum Roll Please! Worksheet to gauge their ability to synthesize and summarize the data and information. Refer to the Asteroid Impact Student Workbook Example Answers provided in the unit document for example worksheet answers.
Presentations: Review team oral presentations using a combination of peer and instructor evaluations to gauge their mastery of the concepts.
Activity Extensions
With what students have learned from other team presentations, critiques and class discussion, have them reflect on how they could improve their cavern designs.
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© 2013 by Regents of the University of Colorado; original © 2005 Colorado School of MinesSupporting Program
Adventure Engineering, Colorado School of MinesAcknowledgements
Adventure Engineering was supported by National Science Foundation grant nos. DUE 9950660 and GK-12 0086457. However, these contents do not necessarily represent the policies of the National Science Foundation, and you should not assume endorsement by the federal government.
Last modified: November 28, 2018
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