Mouse Maze Project Timeline

STEM Project Timeline – Mouse Maze

Below is a rough outline of my STEM project proposal.  Each session will be 45-60 minutes long. 

Thursday, March 6, 12:10-12:55

Introduce the project and discuss collecting materials over spring break (cardboard boxes, paper towel and toilet paper rolls, etc.).  Put students into their groups and allow them to start brainstorming ideas and/or assigning specific student jobs (leader, collector, drawer, builder, writer, etc.).  Discuss objectives (collect materials, build a maze to stimulate the mouse), how they will be met, and assessment/rubric. 

Extra Planning Lesson, if possible

Monday, March 17 or 24, 9:10-9:55

Allow students to research mazes via the Internet in their groups and continue with their plans for building. 

*May have to skip this lesson, depending on SBA practice testing.  If so, students may choose to do research at home and share ideas with their group during the next lesson.

Thursday, March 27, 12:10-12:55

All materials are due.  Groups who need more will be provided materials by me.  Although all groups will have different materials, the amount and types of materials should be similar. 

Students will begin building their mouse mazes in their groups.

Tuesday, April 1, 1-2

Students will continue building their mazes in groups. 

Thursday, April 3, 12:10-12:55

Students should be completing their mazes and begin preparing for class presentations.  One of their assignments will be to calculate and present the shortest and longest route possible, as well as predictions regarding which route the mouse will take as well as the estimated time from beginning to end.

Wednesday, April 9, 2:45-3:30

Students will share their mazes with the rest of the class and answer any questions about materials, design, etc.  Each presentation will be about 10 minutes. 

Friday, April 11, 2-2:45

Testing day!  The mouse will go through each maze while students make observations and time the mouse from beginning to end. 

Extension, if possible:

Monday, April 14, 9:10-9:55

Students can use PowerPoint or prezi to create a culminating presentation of their project from beginning (collecting materials and planning) to end (watching the mouse go through).  This can include pictures and video from throughout the process (taken by me).  Students should also include a self-assessment describing how well the group feels they met the objectives and what they would do differently next time.

Wednesday, April 16, 2:45-3:30

Student technology presentations (described above), each lasting about ten minutes

Class Reflection

I really like the interactive graph.  I think this would be a great tool for upper elementary students to explore.  Primary students would probably need a little more support, but they could get practice by having a teacher show them the site on an interactive board. 

I also liked the geology refresher.  Even though I teach rocks and minerals every other year in fourth grade, I always need to be one step ahead of the kids.  Sometimes they ask me questions that I can’t answer confidently off the top of my head, so it’s good to see some of the higher-level stuff.  At least that way I know a LITTLE more than they do.