THE GREAT YEAR 3 LIGHTHOUSE CHALLENGE.

The Great Year 3 Lighthouse Challenge.

The task:To build a lighthouse out of art straws and pipe cleaners. The lighthouse had to contain a working circuit and be capable of supporting a bulb and holder.
3 prizes were on offer:
The tallest lighthouse.
The cheapest lighthouse over 30cm.
The teamwork prize. 

SHOPPING FOR MATERIALS

The children had looked at functioning lighthouses and learnt about their purpose and positioning.

The children were shown how to make a vertex using pipe cleaners as a joint.
 Next the children were assigned a partner from the other year 3 class to work with. They completed a basic design and made a list of the materials they would need.
They then went ‘shopping’ for materials

Artstraws        10p
Pipe cleaners  5p
Wire    1p a cm
Battery and holder 50p
Bulb and holder 50p
The children had a budget of £5.00. They had to calculate their costs and the change they should receive.

The children had 2 hours to construct their lighthouse. There were a range of successful designs.The highest lighthouse was 46cm. The cheapest cost £2.90 and there were many nominations for the teamwork prize.

   

GREAT TEAMWORK

 

A DESIGN COMING TOGETHER

Successes
The activity was hugely successful on lots of levels. I was particularly pleased with the way the children were able to budget and handle their money. I had identified this as a weakness after our trip to the chocolate factory gift shop. I have set up a class shop role play area outside the class to encourage practical handling of money.

A FEW OF THE FINISHED DESIGNS

The perseverance and co-operation on show was excellent with the children dealing well with some healthy competition. The best quote of the day came from the child who told her mum that
‘we did no work today!’