Overview

Sea level rise and more-intense storms, both driven by climate change, threaten coastal communities around the globe. In this engineering project, your students will build a model coastline and design a seawall to protect houses from waves as the sea level rises.

Remote learning adaptation: This lesson plan can be conducted remotely. Materials can be distributed for each student to work independently at home on the challenge and report back. Alternatively, students can design a barrier (draw or build from toothpicks) and the teacher can choose a few different designs to replicate and test on video in front of the class.

Learning Objectives

• Define the criteria and constraints of an engineering design problem.
• Understand the potential impacts of climate change and sea level rise on coastal communities.

NGSS Alignment

This lesson helps students prepare for these Next Generation Science Standards Performance Expectations:

• MS-ESS3-2. Analyze and interpret data on natural hazards to forecast future catastrophic events and inform the development of technologies to mitigate their effects.
• MS-ETS1-1. Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions.

This lesson focuses on these aspects of NGSS Three Dimensional Learning:

Science & Engineering Practices Asking Questions and Defining Problems. Define a design problem that can be solved through the development of an object, tool, process or system and includes multiple criteria and constraints, including scientific knowledge that may limit possible solutions.

Disciplinary Core Ideas ETS1.A: Defining and Delimiting Engineering Problems. The more precisely a design task's criteria and constraints can be defined, the more likely it is that the designed solution will be successful. Specification of constraints includes consideration of scientific principles and other relevant knowledge that are likely to limit possible solutions.

Crosscutting Concepts Influence of Science, Engineering, and Technology on Society and the Natural World. The uses of technologies and limitations on their use are driven by individual or societal needs, desires, and values; by the findings of scientific research; and by differences in such factors as climate, natural resources, and economic conditions.

Materials

Each group will need:

• Large aluminum baking pan or plastic container, with side walls at least 5 cm high
• 1 lb (450 g) of non-hardening modeling clay. Note that white modeling clay can be purchased in bulk and is cheaper than colored clay.
• Water
• Empty plastic bottle that fits inside the pan width-wise
• Construction paper
• Clear tape
• Scissors
• Box of toothpicks
  • Note: Other craft/office supplies can be substituted for, or supplement, the toothpicks: paper clips, pipe cleaners, wooden craft sticks, etc.
• Container to transport and pour water (cup/bottle/pitcher etc.)