Week 12: Novel Engineering

Book Title: The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka

Time Spent: 2hrs 15mins

Grade Level: 3-5

Summary:
During this engaging lesson, students participated in a novel engineering activity based on The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka. The media specialist began by reading the story aloud and guiding a discussion about the main problem in the text. Students were then tasked with designing traps to catch the three little pigs. Working in groups, they sketched their ideas on blueprint paper before building their traps using Strawbees building straws. What made this lesson so impactful was the way the media specialist pulled problem-solving directly from the storyline, bringing the book to life through hands-on learning. The students were very engaged and worked with enthusiasm throughout the activity. After building, groups shared their designs with the class, showcasing their creativity and collaboration.

Reflection:
This lesson was excellent. I loved how the media specialist used a familiar story to create a real-world problem-solving experience for students. The connection between literacy and engineering was seamless, and the students were clearly invested in both the process and the outcome. They were genuinely excited to see each other’s designs and proud of their work. If I could make one change, I would slightly reduce the design time and add a few extra minutes to the sharing portion. This would allow for student questions and more in-depth discussion around each group's approach. Overall, this lesson was a great example of integrated learning, and I walked away with ideas I can definitely use in the future.