Date: May 4, 2000

Grade Level(s): 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Subject(s):

• Interdisciplinary

Description: Pairs of students are asked to develop a contraption to transport 60 ping pong balls from one area of the room to another using limited materials.

Goals: To teach students problem solving skills and cooperative team building while keeping emotions in check.

Objectives: Student will:

1. work cooperatively with another student.
2. develop thinking skills.
3. use problem solving skills learned or from experience.

Materials:

• 1 cardboard box (Coke Case)
• 2 feet of masking tape
• scissors
• paper and pencil
• 10 feet of string
• a rubber band

1. Instruct students about the goal to transport the ping-pong balls from one box to the other.
2. The box with the balls and the box to hold transported balls must be at least 15 feet apart.
3. A diamond shaped area (use masking tape to block off) should be made between the two boxes with a straight tape running the full length through the middle of the diamond.
4. Set rules: No touching the contraption (except strings); no touching balls or its boxes; no picking up balls during transport failure; and must transport balls within 5 minutes time period.

Assessment: Students are asked to evaluate their contraptions using rubrics they developed themselves regarding the following: (1) design; (2) speed; (3) efficiency (of picking up balls); and (4) teamwork.