Create Earthquake-Proof Statues Imagineerz Learning

STEM Challenge: Magnidude Is Shaking Our Statues

Context and Challenge

Superhero Metropolis is under siege by MagniDude, a villain causing devastating earthquakes. Teamed up with the troublesome traffic-jam trolls — Blame Troll, Complain Troll, and Give-Up Troll — they’ve destroyed the city’s beloved statues. These villains bring chaos and despair, with MagniDude shaking the ground and the trolls spreading negativity with their broccoli smell and sticky, clawed fingers.

Create earthquake-proof statues for Superhero Metropolis.

Constraints and Success Criteria

The statues should be as tall as possible, embodying the towering strength and indomitable spirit of Superhero Metropolis. Their construction must be sturdy enough to resist the quake forces unleashed by MagniDude.

Materials

You do not need any testers for this challenge.

Logistics

Prepare Materials: Ensure you have all the necessary materials ready beforehand and organize them so that they are easily accessible to students. Students should use no more than five of any one material per creation! For example, a student can use five straws and five pieces of paper, but not ten straws. If you provide aluminum foil, no more than one arm’s length piece for each student!
Set Up Testing Area: Create a designated area where students can test their bio bubbles.
Provide Guidelines and Constraints: Reiterate the challenge and the constraints to students as needed. Emphasize the importance of following safety guidelines and considering the constraints, while designing their bio bubbles. Building time is 45 minutes!
Model the Design Process: Before students begin, demonstrate the design process by going through the steps yourself. Discuss how to brainstorm ideas, create prototypes, test them, and make iterations based on the results, as needed.
Encourage Collaboration: Foster a collaborative environment where students can work together in pairs. Encourage them to share ideas, help each other troubleshoot challenges, and provide constructive feedback throughout the process. But no groups of three!
Support Adaptation: Encourage students to embrace the mindset of adaptation and problem-solving. Help them see that setbacks and failures are opportunities to learn and make improvements. Guide them in identifying areas for adaptation and brainstorming alternative solutions.
Facilitate Reflection: Set aside time for students to reflect on their design process and decision-making. Ask questions that prompt them to think critically about their choices, challenges they faced, and what they learned from the experience. This reflection can be done individually, in pairs, or as a whole-class discussion.
Celebrate and Showcase: Once students have completed the challenge, celebrate their efforts and showcase their work. Provide opportunities for students to share their experiences, explain their design choices, and reflect on the overall learning journey.

CASEL Discussion Questions

Five questions aligned to Self-Awareness and Self-Management — our focus CASEL competencies for Module 1 — for teachers to foster an engaging discussion and social-emotional learning

What feelings arise when you think about your statue standing up to an “earthquake”? How can understanding these feelings help you approach challenges more effectively?
Reflect on a time you felt resilient, like your statue. What strategies did you use to overcome that challenge?
If your statue did not withstand the “earthquake,” what thoughts went through your mind, and how did you manage them?
How does preparing and building your statue relate to preparing for challenges in your own life? Can you think of a personal example?
Consider a part of the statue you worked on that was particularly challenging. How did you keep yourself motivated to continue working on it?