Goldilocks and the Three Bears (Learning Undefeated)

In this design challenge, students will receive a problem inspired by the story Goldilocks and the Three Bears by James Marshall. In the story, Goldilocks is assigned the task of buying muffins in the next village but is warned not to take the shortcut through the forest. However, Goldilocks does as she pleases and ends up finding the home of the three Bears. She walks right into the house without knocking and begins to cause mischief. Having tried the Bear’s food, chairs, and beds, Goldilocks eventually falls asleep. When the Bear family returns, they find a sleeping Goldilocks who awakes startled and runs home. Although everyone is safe in the end, the Baby Bear’s chair is destroyed. Students will engage in a STEM challenge to build a chair for the Bear family’s guest in 25 minutes. Teams will receive bonus points if a student from the team can sit in the chair.

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to

Build a strong structure by applying an understanding of the physical properties of objects
Classify building materials by their physical properties
Classify objects by the materials from which they are made
Demonstrate that objects can be changed by cutting and folding
Count forward and backward to at least 20 with and without objects
Use measuring tools to measure the length of objects
Give an example of a measurable attribute of a given object including length, capacity, and weight
Work with a budget
Solve a problem using the engineering design process

Standards Alignment + Connections

Next Generation Science Standards

2-PS1-1- Plan and conduct an investigation to describe and classify different kinds of materials by their observable properties.

2-PS1-2: Analyze data obtained from testing different materials to determine which materials have the properties that are best suited for an intended purpose.

K-2-ETS1-1: Ask questions, make observations, and gather information about a situation people want to change to define a simple problem that can be solved through the development of a new or improved object or tool.

Maryland College and Career Ready Standards

Standards for Mathematics

1.MD.A.2 – Express the length of an object as a whole number of length units, by laying multiple copies of a shorter object (the length unit) end to end; understand that the length measurement of an object is the number of same-size length units that span it with no gaps or overlaps

2.MD.A.2 – Measure the length of an object by selecting and using appropriate tools such as rulers, yardsticks, meter sticks, and measuring tapes

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills

2021 Science TEKS covered in this design challenge

Kinder TEKS: K.1.B, K.1.E, K.1.G, K.6.A
Grade 1 TEKS: 1.1.B, 1.1.E, 1.1.G, 1.6.A, 1.6.C
Grade 2 TEKS: 2.1.B, 2.1.E, 2.1.G, 2.6.A, 2.6.C

Math TEKS covered in this design challenge

Kinder TEKS: K.2.A, K.2.C, K.5, K.6.E, K.7.A
Grade 1 TEKS: 1.3.D, 1.3.E, 1.5.A, 1.7.A
Grade 2 TEKS: 2.2.B, 2.4.A, 2.9.D

ELAR TEKS covered in this design challenge

Kinder TEKS: K.7.C, K.8.A
Grade 1 TEKS: 1.1.D, 1.8.C, 1.9.A
Grade 2 TEKS: 2.1.D, 2.6.C, 2.8.C, 2.9.A

Technology Applications TEKS covered in this design challenge

Kinder TEKS: K.3.A, K.3.B
Grade 1 TEKS: 1.3.A, 1.3.B, 1.5.A
Grade 2 TEKS: 2.3.A, 2.3.B, 2.5.A

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