Lesson Plan

Reach for the Skies

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet
This Reach for the Skies lesson plan also includes:

Scholars view the film Reach for the Skies to learn about the Shangai Tower. Following a discussion and observation of premade shapes, pairs design and construct a tower using uncooked pasta, straws, newspaper, tape, and marshmallows. The challenge is to make a tall tower that can withstand strong winds. Learners face this challenge by blowing on their tower and then discuss their findings with the class.

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Instructional Ideas
  • Place copies of the My Tall Tower Plan worksheet inside plastic paper protectors; direct pairs to draw using dry-erase markers for easy erasing and redesigning if needed
  • Celebrate the successful completion of the activity with clean, untouched marshmallows for a snack 
  • Gather a collection of picture books that showcase tall towers; display them and allow pupils to browse them when time permits
Classroom Considerations
  • The lesson may be broken into smaller parts
  • Read the Teacher Notes section for preparation tips and requirements
  • Graphics look best printed in color; otherwise, mirror the image from your computer to the television or SMART board
Pros
  • The plan notes how long each section takes to complete
  • Includes an extension portion to take the learning further
  • Encourages the teacher to ask guiding questions to lead participants to a solution without offering the solution directly
Cons
  • None