Lesson 5: Stretch, Bend and Twist – I Think You’ve Got the Gist

 Preparation

Equipment

• playdough
• A4 paper
• pretzels
• playdough mats
• air hardening clay
• pretzel dough
• colouring utensils

 Lesson Plan

Tuning In

• Ask students to sit in a circle on the mat. Place the category posters from Things That Stretch, Bend and Twist – Hands-on Materials  in the middle of the circle where students are sitting, and ask students to state what each one says.
• Mix and scatter the image cards within the area of the circle. Instruct students to select an image and place it on the correct poster. Discuss their choices.

Teacher Instruction

• Assign students into groups of 3 to 5 and provide each group with an A3 piece of paper, colour markers and a large baked pretzel.
• Ask students to complete the following:
  – Draw an image of the pretzel on paper.
  – Write words to describe the pretzel.
  – Write any questions they have about the pretzel.
  – Label where they think the pretzel has been stretched, bent and twisted.

• Ask students to return to the mat and share their posters with the class.

Guided/Independent Learning

• Display The Science Behind Shaping Pretzels – Poster to the class, either in poster form or on a projector. Read the comic to the class, talking about the scientific actions within the images.
• Use your own pretzel dough/playdough/clay to model how to follow the instructions, and emphasize the scientific actions you are performing.
• Provide students with their own portion of dough/playdough/clay and ask them to take it to a table. Leave the instructional comic displayed in the classroom.
• Monitor and support students as they complete the activity.
• Collect the pretzels when they are completed. Afterwards, you may choose to bake the pretzel dough and give students their pretzel to eat. If students are using clay, let it dry and have students paint them to display in the classroom.
• Provide a copy of The Science Behind Shaping Pretzels – Worksheet to each student. Read through the instructions and ensure students understand the task.
• Monitor and support students as they complete the activity. Encourage them to use as much detail as possible.

Wrapping Up

• Revise the facts about materials that twist, bend, and stretch, and add any relevant new words to the Chemical Sciences: Physical Changes – Word Wall.
• Add a copy of The Science Behind Shaping Pretzels – Poster and posters from Things That Stretch, Bend and Twist – Hands on Materials to your unit display wall.

 Differentiation

Extending Students

• Challenge more-confident students by not displaying The Science Behind Shaping Pretzels – Poster while they create their pretzels, to see whether they can remember the steps.

Supporting Students

• If you have students who are allergic to ingredients in the pretzel recipe, seek an alternative version with substituted ingredients.
• When shaping pretzels out of dough, place students in groups to help them learn from and support one another.
• Allow students who may take longer to complete the work to use the colour or low-colour version of The Science Behind Shaping Pretzels – Worksheet, reducing the time spent colouring the images.

 Assessment Strategies

Suggested Assessment Strategies

• used strategic whole class or individual questioning
• observed student participation during learning activities
• recorded student progress on a checklist
• annotated student work samples
• collected and reviewed student work samples
• facilitated whole class or peer feedback sessions
• encouraged student self-reflection
• administered formal assessment tasks.

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