Shake It Up is an engineering design-based STEM curricular unit. The unit aims to facilitate the learning of major science and mathematical concepts and skills within the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and Common Core State Standards (CCSS) respectively. The unit includes teacher guides, class activities with solutions, and assessment guidelines. 

Grade Level: 4-5

Approximate Time Needed to Complete Unit: Ten 50-minute class periods

Unit Summary: Earthquakes are a natural phenomenon that can have detrimental impacts on the daily lives of humans. Students will learn how engineering can reduce the impact of earthquakes. In addition, students will develop background knowledge on the cause of earthquakes and different types of anchors. Presented with the context of a renewable energy company seeking a way to stabilize their wind turbines in an earthquake-prone area, students will design anchors that take into consideration the client’s criteria and constraints. Students will test their designs with shake tables and analyze the results to determine the anchors' effectiveness at stabilizing the wind turbines.

List of Lessons:

• Lesson 1: Earthquake
  Science
  • Objectives: (1) Understand how an earthquake occurs; (2) Explain how earthquakes affect structures; (3) Understand the context of the design project; (4) Engage in problem scoping with the client letter; (5) Understand the concept of engineering and the types of engineering this challenge draws upon.
• Lesson 2: Anchors
  • Objectives: (1) Investigate a variety of materials for model anchors to determine which are most effective at stabilizing a structure during an earthquake; (2) Learn about different types of anchors.
• Lesson 3: Planning Anchor Designs 
  • Objectives: (1) Understand the terms renewable energy and environmental impact; (2) Use evidence-based reasoning to justify their design choices; (3) Draw on science concepts, problem scoping, and client needs to inform their design choices
• Lesson 4: Try and Test Anchor Designs
  • Objectives: (1) Build a model of an anchor; (2) Test their design and collect data from test results; (3) Learn how to redesign their anchor by modifying their first design; (4) Learn to justify their design decisions based on evidence
• Lesson 5: Analyzing Anchor Designs
  • Objectives: (1) Compare the two anchor designs they made; (2) Decide which anchor should be presented to the client and use evidence to support their reasoning; (3) Learn to make trade-offs and learn how to prioritize the client’s various criteria.
• Lesson 6: Memo to the Client
  • Objectives: (1) Collaborate and compromise within their groups to determine which anchor design they want to present to the client; (2) Decide which anchor should be presented to the client and use evidence to support their reasoning; (3) Learn to communicate their solution to a client.

Unit Standards:

• NGSS: 4-ESS3-2
• CCSS: 4.MD.B.4

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under grant NSF DRL-1238140. Any opinions, findings and conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

Researchers should cite this work as follows:

• Dave McGill, Shelley Norton, Ann Pelletier, Heidi Sundet, Angelina Constantine, Marty Davis, Karl Jung, Nii Tackie, Sheila Williams Ridge, Kerrie Douglas, Tamara J. Moore (2022), "Shake It Up: An EngrTEAMS Curricular Unit," https://nanohub.org/resources/36154.

  BibTex | EndNote

1. earthquakes
2. Earth Science
3. elementary school
4. engineering design
5. EngrTEAMS
6. has CCSS
7. has NGSS
8. K-12
9. physical science
10. plate tectonics
11. precollege
12. STEM
13. teaching and learning