Engineering in Agriculture Game

Drop in to our Drop Anywhere Labs experience that introduces students to engineering thinking needed in agricultural settings. In this immersive experience, students investigate differences between seasons, engineer solutions for a farmer’s tractor, and problem solve issues with pests around crops.

This experience uses projection mapping and interactive screens to provide students with an immersive game experience.

Learning Objectives

Standards Alignments + Connections

Next Generation Science Standards Connections

K-2-ETS1-3: Analyze data from tests of two objects designed to solve the same problem to compare strengths and weaknesses of how each performs.

1-ESS1-2: Make observations at different times of year to relate the amount of daylight to the time of year.

3-ESS2-1: Represent data in tables and graphical displays to describe typical weather conditions expected during a particular season.

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills Connections

K-3.1.A: Ask questions and define problems based on observations or information from text, phenomena, models, or investigations

K-3.1.E: Collect observations and measurements as evidence

K-3.4.A: Explain how science or innovation can help others

1.9.A: Describe and predict patterns of seasons of the year such as order of occurrence and changes in nature.

Virginia Science Standards of Learning Connections

K-3.1.A: Asking questions and defining problems

K.9.C: Understand there are patterns in nature like seasonal changes

1.7.B: There are relationships between daily weather and the seasons

2.7.A: Weather and seasonal changes affect the growth and behavior of living things

Activity Components

Pre-Laboratory Engagement

As an introduction to this game, we recommend our activity, Growing a Garden.

This will introduce students to the plant growth process and the parts of a plant.

Activity

In the first level, students select a leaf to start changes on the depicted tree and must determine what season is being visualized. Students will make observations about the changes to the tree and wildlife as well as the temperature and timing of dawn and dusk. They select evidence of what was observed and make a final claim based off what they saw. Each level provides students with immediate feedback, so misconceptions are quickly dispelled.

Further levels focus on engineering solutions to different problems on the farm. Students are presented with the problem and must determine the best solution for its ability to help the problem as well as fit within their budget.

When students enter the space, they are grouped into four different color teams. Throughout the game, each team is given different roles: either to take the lead on the decisions for that interaction or to support. When in a lead decision making role, team members interact with a large touch screen tablet to select evidence and make their claim. When in a support role, team members use their team magnets to vote on the magnetic projection wall and provide feedback to the lead team as needed.

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