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Science Lesson Kit · Teacher Resource

Build It, Take It Apart, Build Something New — 5E Lesson Plan

Physical Science · 40 minutes

Grade 2

5E lesson flow

  1. 01

    Engage

    5 min

    Teacher Does

    Show a six-block tower and ask whether the same pieces could make something different.

    Students Do

    Predict and explain.

    Ask

    • What could we build without adding new pieces?

    Look For

    Students focus on rearrangement rather than new materials.

  2. 02

    Explore

    12 min

    Teacher Does

    Give pairs one fixed set of pieces and ask them to build, photograph or sketch, take apart, and rebuild.

    Students Do

    Make two different objects from the same set.

    Ask

    • How do you know the pieces are the same?

    Look For

    Counting or matching pieces before and after.

  3. 03

    Explain

    8 min

    Teacher Does

    Introduce assemble, disassemble, rearrange, and evidence using student builds.

    Students Do

    Use the words to describe what they did.

    Ask

    • What changed? What stayed the same?

    Look For

    Arrangement changed; pieces stayed the same.

  4. 04

    Elaborate

    9 min

    Teacher Does

    Challenge pairs to make a third object while keeping the same set of pieces.

    Students Do

    Rebuild and record evidence.

    Ask

    • What evidence proves you reused the same set?

    Look For

    Observable evidence rather than opinion.

  5. 05

    Evaluate

    6 min

    Teacher Does

    Show a before-and-after build and ask for one claim with evidence.

    Students Do

    Respond orally, by pointing, or in writing.

    Ask

    • Did the pieces change, or only their arrangement?

    Look For

    Accurate distinction between pieces and arrangement.

Student goal

I can show how the same pieces can be taken apart and rearranged into a new object.

Learning objectives

  • Observe how an object can be made from smaller pieces.
  • Use evidence to explain how the same pieces can be rearranged into a new object.

Materials

  • Interlocking blocks or linking cubes
  • Craft sticks or tiles
  • Build-and-rebuild recording sheet
  • Crayons or pencils

Before class

  • Prepare each exact six-piece set: two long blue, two square green, one triangle orange, and one short purple piece.
  • Choose pieces that can be safely assembled and disassembled.
  • Open Teach Mode and Read Aloud.

Prior knowledge

  • Objects can be made from smaller parts.
  • Students can compare before and after pictures.

Vocabulary

piece
One part used to make a larger object.
assemble
To put pieces together.
disassemble
To take an object apart into pieces.
rearrange
To put the same pieces in a different order or shape.
evidence
What you observe that helps support an idea.

Differentiation

  • Use larger pieces and picture directions for support.
  • Allow oral explanations and pointing before writing.
  • Use the frame: The same ___ made a new ___ because ___.
  • For extension, ask students to design three objects from one fixed set.

Assessment

  • Check whether students keep the same set of pieces.
  • Listen for correct use of assemble/disassemble/rearrange.
  • Use the final claim-and-evidence response as an exit check.

Exit ticket

Show two builds made from the same pieces and tell what changed.

Extension

Create a class gallery called One Set, Many Objects.