Divide and Conquer

Particles of Matter

5th Grade

Students work together to steer the ship and navigate their way across a map.

Students just received information about Operation Green Maw (Patient-19's carnivorous plant operation that we're trying to shut down today). They should read the information with their teams. Then, they'll do the following tasks with their team as well

• Discuss with your team: Based on what you read, why do we need to take down Operation Green Maw?

• Highlight TWO sentences that describe the physical characteristics that make these plants dangerous.

• Any two of the following sentences works: These mutant plants are large and menacing, with wide, toothy mouths that are capable of snapping shut quickly to devour their prey...They have long, thick stems that allow them to move and stretch toward anything that gets too close, making them fierce predators that are far more dangerous than any natural plant...With their sharp, jagged teeth and powerful jaws, they could easily destroy anything in their path...Their roots are strong enough to break through concrete, and their ability to move means they could chase down prey and spread rapidly.

"Why does it matter so much that we take down Operation Green Maw?"

Students are given a map on their screens called “Operation Green Maw Data”. Students work together as a team to scan different objects on the map and collect information.

Main Screen: MAP -- not materials list Capital after colon on prompts

Teacher Tips: Students just received information about their team's specific objective. They should read the information with their team to learn about their objective and the materials list they have to accomplish their objective. Then, they'll do the following tasks with their team:

• Discuss with your team: Which materials would best help your team accomplish your objective?

• Discuss with your team: Discuss your specific plan including HOW you would use those materials to accomplish your goal.

In this mission, each team has a different part of the plan to execute in order for the mission to be successful.

• Command + Security — Create a plan using only listed materials to get Anja past the security and scientists without being seen.

• Engineering + Science — Create a plan using only listed materials to contaminate the water source of the mutant plants.

• Medical + IT — Create a plan using only listed materials to disrupt the plants' growing environment.

"What's your team's objective?"

"What's your plan?"

Teams of students receive different prompts:

• Create a plan and support it with a particle model to get Anja past the security and scientists without being seen.

• Create a plan and support it with a particle model to contaminate the water source of the mutant plants.

• Create a plan and support it with a particle model to disrupt the plants' growing environment.

Teacher reviews data with class and checks to see if designs meet the required rubric. Results are then revealed to the class.

Students collect entities from a grid on their computers using a tractor beam device.