Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Objectives:

  1. To identify the story as a fictional story.
  2. To define activities that the three bears engage in that real bears can not do.
  3. To design a structure that will withstand a clay bear's force exerted from sitting down on it.

Materials:

  • A box of tongue depressors or popsicle sticks, modeling clay (2 sticks per team), string (one ball per team)

    Procedures:

    1. Read the fictional tale, Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Discuss "why" it is a fictional story. List all the activities that the three bears do that real bears can not do.
    2. Present the problem-solving situation: Goldilocks needs your help. She got into trouble because she broke the Baby Bear's chair. Can you make the Baby Bear's chair strong enough, so that when Goldilocks sits on it she will not break it?"
    3. Have children draw their chair designs in their folios (record-keeping logs). Check their sketches to see that they are complete.
    4. Allow children to work in teams of two. Provide teams with sticks, clay, and string. Remind them that they must design Baby Bear's chair so "strong" that their clay Goldilocks will not break it.
    5. When the teams have tested their designs with their clay Goldilocks, allow them to show their chairs to the class. Have them demonstrate the clay Goldilocks sitting in the Baby Bear's chair. (All designs are acceptable as long as the clay Goldilocks can sit in it)
    6. Have children check the school for various chair designs and constructions. Discuss how chairs are designed for function and comfort.
    7. Have children check their homes for chair designs and constructions. Compile a picture book of chairs. Have each child illustrate and describe a different chair.

    Evaluation

    1. Check student folios to insure drawings of chairs were completed.
    2. Assess student participation in team activities and discussions.
    3. Evaluate student contributions to team presentations.
    4. Determine student abilities to transfer chair design information from the classroom to the home.

      Go Back: Goldilocks and the Three Bears