Partnering for Youth Project A to Z

Technology Zone France Eiffel Tower Project: Blue Print Design and Construction
Grades 3 - 5 Materials My Architect Journal (Support Material) (one folder (with journal pages in it) per student) Tri-fold Display Boards (one per student) Toothpicks (approximately 50-75 per student) Glue (wood glue or any clear drying strong adhesive glue) Projector (optional) Craft scissors (one per four students) Rulers (one per student) Eiffel Tower Power Point (Support Material) (optional) Pencil (one per student) Eiffel Tower Project Example (Support Material) Focus Students are continuing a four week Eiffel tower project, where they become architects and design their own two-dimensional Eiffel Tower out of toothpicks. This is week two of four. Students will use their Architect Journals and their research from last week in continuing to sketch individual design and patterns for their Eiffel Tower. Once they have their blue print, they may also begin construction. Objectives When students complete this activity, they will: Record facts and data pertaining to the Eiffel Tower in their Architect Journals Identify the different patterns within the Eiffel Towers construction Brainstorm ideas for their own tower construction Sketch blueprints of tower ideas in their journals Construct a 2-D design out of toothpicks that mirrors their blueprints Determine their inspiration for their individual design and record it in their journals Integration of Academic Skills Constructing, Organizing, Brainstorming, Researching Words you can use France a country in Western Europe, also known as the French Republic. Eiffel Tower an iron lattice tower in Paris, originally built in 1889. It is the second tallest structure in France. Architect a person trained in the planning, design and construction of buildings. Inspiration

Background (to be read by instructor to prepare for lesson) This is week two of four of the Eiffel Tower Project. Please have the projector and Eiffel Tower Power Point ready to play in case the students need references, but you do NOT have to present it again. It may be a good idea to have it play on loop during zone so students can see the various pictures. However, this is optional, and only if you conduct zone in the computer lab today. Students will use zone time to sketch their own designs for their tower. Please make sure that they fill out journal page Day 1/2, which includes a sentence or two on where/why/how they got the inspiration for their tower pattern/design. Please stress to students that they will be keeping the outside shape of the towerbut they will be re-designing the pattern that goes inside it. Use the Eiffel Tower Project Example to show thissee how the outside of the toothpick tower is the same shape as the original Eiffel Tower? The only difference is the pattern inside of the tower is different. Students can choose any pattern or design theyd like for this. They may also use their discretion on how large or small theyd like their tower to be, just as long as they keep the original outside shape. Instructors, for this project, you may want to discuss with the Site Coordinator about conducting zone for the next three weeks in the cafeteriaglue and toothpicks will be used, and probably should not be used around electronic equipment in the computer lab. See if there is an area you can arrange that has tables and hard surfaces for the students to work on. Ask and discuss the following questions contributing background information and additional questions when appropriate. What are some important precautions and safety tips when using toothpicks? Toothpicks have sharp edges! They are being used as a material for a projectthey are NOT a toy or something to be played with. If a student is seen using a toothpick inappropriately, they will be taken out of zone by the Site Coordinator. Exploration Please have the Eiffel Tower Power Point ready to play if need be, it may be a good idea to have it play continually on loop during zone time so students can see the pictures. However, this is optional, and should only be considered if there is no other room to conduct technology zone today besides the computer lab. Students should not need to turn on the computer todayall research should have been completed last week. It is suggested that zone is conducted in a larger area with more table surfacesuch as the cafeteria. Tell students that this is the second week of their four week construction project. Today, they will be sketching their ideas for a tower and starting construction with toothpicks. Spend approximately two minutes discussing the background question on safety when handling toothpicks. Stress that any student that handles the toothpicks inappropriately will be taken out of zone by the Site Coordinator. Just like any architect on a real construction project would stress: Safety First! Also take a few moments to show the Eiffel Tower Example again. Show students that they will not be designing a new outline of the towerthe shape of their tower should match, or be similar, to the shape of the original Eiffel Tower. The only difference will be possibly in size (their tower might be smaller or larger in relation to the Eiffel Tower Example, and in the design/pattern inside of the towerthat is what their focus should be on)

Give each student a pencil and their Architect Journal. Have them turn to Day 1/2 and start working on their design. Also be sure that they take a minute or two to write down what inspired them to choose their specific design for their tower. This should take approximately fifteen minutes, as some students will probably have started on it last week as well. Next, pass out a display board to each student. Have them sit in small clusters so you can put toothpicks, pencils, rulers, scissors and glue in the center of the table and have them accessible to everyone. Have them write their name on the back of their display boards! Before anyone starts gluing, have them take a pencil and lightly sketch in the center panel the outline of their tower. Have them refer to Day 1 of their journal where they sketched their interpretation of the Eiffel Tower. Also stress that they use rulers for straight lines! Instructors, please walk around and assist any students that need help with the outline. Then, have students start gluing toothpicks over their pencil sketch for their outline of the tower. It is important that they complete the outline of their tower first before starting on their inside designs. Students may need to trim toothpicks in order to properly glue them on their outline. They should only cut those toothpicks that need to be trimmed in order to fit on their outline! They should not cut toothpicks just for the sake of cutting toothpicksplease keep an eye out for this. By the end of zone time, everyone should have completed, or be close to completing, their toothpick outline. Please have the students assist you with cleaning up before the end of the day.

Reflection Have the students start thinking of a background scene for their tower, they will be working on this as well for the next two weeks.