Student Products Shared with World

At the completion of our second grade Forces and Motion engineering unit, while working in teams, students have designed, built, tested, and improved their Marble Runs. The runs (or drops) have been assembled using only recycled materials and marbles.

Students have completed their challenge to assemble a Marble Run with the slowest moving marble possible, but without the marble being allowed to stop. Each Marble Run must also include at least three changes of direction.

In order to market their Marble Drops to the public, students will work within their groups to create, plan, and complete an advertising project. Students may make props, bring costumes, write dialogue, and practice together during classtime.

Student groups are graded using a rubric which the students receive in advance. Points are given for creativity, groups working well together, a unifed theme throughout the presentation, correct use of language, and the final product.

Students video each group during their presentation as well as the product, the Marble Run, during a demonstration. Up to three videoing trials are allowed for each team to successfully demonstrate their product and advertisement. Teams may watch each attempt and select their favorite to share with the class.

Finally, these videos are used to share results with parents and the community, as well as watched by the students themselves in order to improve their presentation skills. Students will share constructive criticism with one another as performances are critiqued as a class.