ES Design: Grade 2

Central Idea: People organise learning communities to collaborate and grow.

Essential Question: How can photos be used to tell a story?

Focus: Digital Design - Photography/Animation

Major project: Stop-motion animation

Minor projects: Photo stories

Students will:

• Practice holding the iPad correctly when taking a photo.
• Use the Camera app correctly (focus and zoom).
• Use the Photos app to review photos, delete and favorite photos.
• Use perspective (worm's eye, bird's eye) and framing (far, full, close up).
• Use small movements to create stop-motion animation

Central Idea: Living things adapt.

Essential Question: How do animals adapt to their environments?

Focus: Physical Design - Sewing

Major project: Animal soft stuffy toy

Minor projects: Felt pocket

Students will:

• Safely use a sewing needle.
• Safely use fabric scissors.
• Thread a needle and tie a knot.
• Use a loop stitch to fasten pieces of fabric.
• Cut the thread and tie it off.

Central Idea: Curiosity can inspire exploration.
 

Essential Question: How can we make cardboard move?

Focus: Physical Design - Cardboard construction

Major project: Moving diorama

Minor projects: Automaton

Students will:

• Safely cut cardboard with a MakeDo Safe saw
• Fasten cardboard with an efficient amount of tape.
• Create a mechanism using an axel, cam, and bearing.
• Design a stage using craft materials.

Central Idea: Living things adapt.

Essential Question: How can we control robots?

Focus: Digital Design - Coding

Major project: BeeBot Mazes

Minor projects: BeeBot Challenges

Students will:

• Create algorithms using movement command cards.
• Program their robots using their code.
• Debug their code using the cards if needed.

Central Idea: Forces have an effect on people and objects. 

Essential Question: How can design changes affect performance?

Focus: Physical Design - Design Cycle

Major project: Sail Cars

Students will:

• Use the design cycle to create a sail car.
• Create a plan for a sail.
• Construct a sail using paper, tape, and straws.
• Test the sail and evaluate its performance.
• Modify the sail to improve performance.