The underlining goal of the Wellesley Public School science curriculum is to enable students to
become active, responsible citizens.
Students will:
• see science as a way of understanding the world and not only as an academic activity
• develop knowledge and scientific ways of thinking and communicating throughout a life time
• value integrity, curiosity, openness to new ideas, skepticism, and imagination
FOR OUR SECOND GRADE UNIT ON STRUCTURES, students will learn that all objects (both living and
nonliving) are structures and that the form of the structure depends on its purpose. These concepts
connect to our study of plants and tide pool organisms.
In the course of this study, students will test objects for strength under tension and compression and
test different shapes to determine their strength. Students will learn to identify and build various styles
of bridges with classroom materials. After exploring the basic concepts that affect the stability of
structures, children then apply their learning to meet such challenges as building a stable bridge out of
paper.
Children work together with "science buddies" to design and test their stable structures. They make
predictions based on their observations and they synthesize their learning through class discussions.
TECHSPLORATION - A SPECIAL RELATED IN-SCHOOL PROGRAM:
This unit culminates with a special second grade presentation followed by classroom workshops with
Mr. Wahle. Mr. Wahle's first teaches children about different famous structures and he points out the
features that make them stable. Then he builds an arc bridge, a truss bridge, and a suspension bridge
before their eyes. He even teaches children how to stand on eggs and he calls upon volunteers to walk
across his bridges. Then Mr. Wahle brings special materials into the classroom for children to try
building these bridges and tall towers on their own, using the concepts they have learned.
RELATED FAMILY ACTIVITY/OUTING POSSIBILITIES:
Children can make a game of identifying support beams, triangles, arcs and buttresses in their homes
and in buildings in their communities and elsewhere.
Children can try their hand at construction at the Boston Children's Museum.
Children can try to build stable bridges, towers, and other structures using recyclable materials at
home.
