UbD Template
Understanding by Design – Planning Template
Desired Outcomes
Established Goals: Science 7
Unit D: Structures and Forces
STS 1 – identify points and modes of failure
STS 2 – recognize and use units of force/mass, and identify and measure forces and loads
STS 2 – identify tension … within a structure and describe how forces cause a structure to fail
STS 3 - devise and use methods of testing strength and flexibility
Skills – relationships between and among observable variables
Skills – gather and record qualitative and quantitative data
Skills – organize data using an appropriate format
Skills – analyze data and develop explanations
Skills – work collaboratively
Established Goals: ICT Outcomes – Div 3
C1 - Students will access, use and communicate information from a variety of technologies
3.5 - analyze and synthesize information to create a product
C5 - Students will use technology to aid collaboration during inquiry
C6 - Students will use technology to investigate and/or solve problems
Enduring Understandings:
Essential Questions:
“Students will understand that ….”
Deformation of a structure depends on the
nature and size of the forces applied.
Modes of failure of structures are not
necessarily dependent on the nature or
extent of the deformation.
Why do structures fail?
Does deformation of a structure
necessarily cause the structure to fail?
Why does an elastic stretch?
Why does it break?
Knowledge:
“Students will know …”
Skills:
- mass load on a structure (elastic) creates
an applied, deforming, force
- “deformation” (def)
- “tension” (def)
- “modes of failure” (def)
- “elastic” (def”
- “static” (def)
- “independent/manipulated variable” (def)
- “dependent/responding variable” (def)
- “controlled variable(s)” (def)
- work collaboratively to carry out an
experimental procedure to investigate the
relationship between applied force (mass) and
resulting length of an elastic band
- record qualitative and qualitative
observations and data
- use Excel (or other appropriate means) to
create a data table of experimental results
- use Excel (or other appropriate means) to
create a linear graph from the data table
- analyze tabular and graphic data to develop
possible explanations for observed
phenomena
“Students will be able to …”
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UbD Template
Assessment
Performance Task:
Other Evidence:
As a team of materials-testing engineers,
you will test an elastic structure to determine
(1) how the length of the elastic depends on
the load applied to stretch the elastic, and
(2) the maximum load which can be applied
to stretch the elastic before it fails. The
results of this test will be presented in a
written report including tabular and graphic
data.
- observation of collaborative team work to
design and carry out a procedure
- recording of results in an appropriate tabular
format
- representation of results in a appropriate
graphic format
- anecdotal record of observations
Learning Plan
Teaching/Learning Activities:
W: You will determine how the length (deformation) of an elastic band depends on the load
applied to stretch it, and what load it can support before it breaks (fails). This is important in
order to understand the difference between the deformation and failure of an elastic material.
H: Can you predict how much mass an elastic an support before it breaks. How is an elastic
band like your blood vessels?
E: Your team will construct a testing structure as discussed. Make any modifications you
decide are necessary to carry out the testing procedure. Use the Excel worksheets on the
whiteboard (or another suitable method) to record your experimental results.
R: As the testing proceeds, make predictions about the relation of the deformation of the
elastic to the applied load and what load you think will cause the elastic to fail (break).
Discuss these with your team. Revise and refine these predictions as you gather more
information. Discuss your ideas with your team.
E: From the data you have collected, use the Excel worksheets on the whiteboard (or another
suitable method) to construct an appropriate graph of the testing results. Use this graph and
your observations to determine (1) how the length of the elastic depends on the load applied
to stretch the elastic, and (2) the maximum load which can be applied to stretch the elastic
before it fails.
Reflection: Why do you think your blood vessels (especially arteries) need to be able to
deform under pressure like an elastic?
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UbD Template
Time
5 Min
5 Min
10 Min
5 Min
15 Min
10 Min
5 Min
5 Min
Activity
Class Routines and Organization
Introductions & VC Etiquette
Lesson Introduction, Performance Task Overview,
Knowledge and Skills Review
Procedure Set-up and Directions
Experimental Procedure and Data Collection
Sharing and Discussion of Results
Wrap-Up Discussion
Class Wrap-Up Routines
Equipment Required for Each Group:
Elastic Band
Retort Stand
Ring clamp (or suitable alternative)
Set of Masses
Metre Stick
Paper & Pencils
Data Management Software:
Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and
graphing productivity software
Web Resources:
www.newbaybridge.org/classroom/
www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig/bridge/
www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/bridge/
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