Plastics 5 th Grade STEM

Plastics5th Grade

STEMBuilding Block of the Modern

World

Science StandardSTANDARD I: Students will understand that chemical and physical changes occur in matter.Objective 2: Evaluate evidence that indicates a physical change has occurred. Identify the physical properties of matter (e.g.,

hard, soft, solid, liquid, gas). Compare changes in substances that indicate a

physical change has occurred. Describe the appearance of a substance before

and after a physical change.

MathematicsStandard 5.NF.1Use equivalent fractions as a

strategy to add and subtract fractions.

Add and subtract fractions with unlike denominators (including mixed numbers) by replacing given fractions with equivalent fractions in such a way as to produce an equivalent sum or difference of fractions with like denominators. For example, 2/3 + 5/4 = 8/12 + 15/12 = 23/12. (In general, a/b + c/d = (ad + bc)/bd.)

Technology and Engineering

TechnologyRuler and/or calculator, iPad

Engineering: Chemical EngineeringMaterials EngineeringManufacturing Engineering

Brain Drain

What do you know about plastics?

Google GroupWhat is a physical property?

Which of these are physical properties?

How have plastics changed our world?

For example, computing devices:

Abacus first Apple computer modern computer

What property of plastics makes them so adaptable for creating modern “boxes” for computers?

What kinds of engineers create products made from plastics?

Chemical engineer

Materials engineer

Manufacturing engineer

Are all plastics alike?

How might these plastics be the same? Different?

What tests can you design to discover the physical properties of plastics?

Professional tests

StretchibilityPlastic Bag TestingCompressionPlastic Bottle Burst testFlame Test

How are plastics formed in to products?

Injection molding

3 D Printing

We do not have all that cool equipment but we can build something out of plastic. Our plastic “pellets” will be Legos. Here is the challenge:

Build a table out of legos. It must have a surface area of