Angry Birds STEM Lesson (3rd Grade)

Objectives
Science

We will compare and contrast the physical characteristics of an Angry Bird and a real
bird.
I will write down two things I learned about the characteristics of a real bird.

Math We will multiply numbers up to ten with automaticity.

I will work multiplication problems and add the products together in order to figure out
my teams score.
Focus/Anticipatory Set

Ask students to clear their tables for the lesson.

Prompt students to play the Angry Birds 2 game on their iPads. Explain that the goal of
the game is to pull back the slingshot and shoot the birds to knock down the towers/green
pigs.
Focus questions for the game:
1) What are the physical characteristics of the Angry Birds?
2) Which of the towers in the game were the hardest/easiest to knock down?
Play the instrumental Angry Bird theme song in the background. Students can play the
game until the song ends. After that, they must exit out of the game, and put their iPads to
the side. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9p2Ev1q1PNw ).
Relevancy

Students need to be aware of the liberties video games and other media take when it
comes to them reimagining real things.
Students have to be able to multiply numbers quickly, so that they can figure out
everyday calculations. (Ex. How many cupcakes they need to make for their class if there
are 6 tables with 4 students at each table; How much they will have to pay if they buy 3
hot dogs at $2 a piece at the concession stand)

Explanation/Teaching Strategies & Modeling

1. Compare and Contrast PowerPoint (Analise)
Discuss focus question 1 from the game: What are the physical characteristics of the
Angry Birds?
Show the PowerPoint slide comparing and contrasting Angry Birds and real birds.
Ask students: What physical characteristics are the same about the birds? What
physical characteristics are different? Record students answers on a Venn diagram
poster as they answer. If students missed anything, make sure to mention/prompt
them to figure out the other characteristics. (Feathers, beaks, feet, etc.)

Discuss focus question 2 from the game: Which towers in the game were
hardest/easiest to knock down? Why?
2. Explanation of the jobs for the group activity (Edith)
Explain that students will be creating towers today with their table groups to
withstand an Angry Birds attack and that each student will have a specific job to
complete in their group (6 groups).
o Recorder- Sketches the plan(s) for building the tower and writes down the
process of figuring out the teams score.
o Materials Manager- Collects the materials needed for the tower construction
and assembles the tower according to the teams plan.
o Throwers- Tests the towers sturdiness for their team and is in charge of
throwing the ball at the other teams tower.
o Sweepers- Collects the blocks their team knocked down and arranges them
so that their team can calculate their score after each throw.
Have students draw a colored cards already on their tables to see which job they will
have for the activity.
3. Explanation of the Activity (Courtney)
Model the process of the activity for students
1. Look at available materials and see what you might like to use to build your
tower. (You will get 4 small, 4 medium, 4 big).
2. Draw a plan on the Whiteboard app of how you would like to build your
tower. List what you will need to complete your plan. (Recorder)
3. Allow students to send the Materials Manager to collect the materials
needed to build their tower. (Draw Popsicle sticks for order)
4. Give students 3 minutes to construct their towers (Materials Manager), test
the tower (Throwers), and rebuild them on top of the table.
5. Explain that students will be throwing balls at another teams tower. They will
get three throws to do as much damage as they can.
6. Explain that on each block they knock down, there is a math problem that they
will have to solve (Sweepers). After solving the math problems, they will
have to add the answers together to determine their team score. Each team will
write their score on their TOTAL SCORE sheet.
Teaching: Checking for Understanding
Questioning- Asking students questions throughout the lesson about the physical
characteristics of birds, why they are building their towers in a certain way, and about
how changing various parts of the lesson would affect their tower building.
Monitoring students as they complete their towers and answer the multiplication
problems.
Questioning Strategies

Knowledge- What are the physical characteristics of birds?

Analysis- How are the birds similar and different?

Creating- Design a tower using the blocks provided.

Application- How would you build your tower if you could use any materials you
wanted?
Comprehension- Describe some of the physical characteristics of a real bird.

Guided Practice
Creating the Venn diagram with the class, comparing the physical appearance of Angry
Birds to real birds.
Discussing the construction of the towers in Angry Birds 2 with the students.
Monitoring students as they create their towers in groups, offering suggestions and asking
students questions about why they are building their tower in that way.
Closure (Taylor)
Recognize the scores of each group by having students hold up their scores and do a
cheer for the whole class.
Have students write 2 things they learned from the lesson and one thing they still feel
unsure about. (On the exit ticket).
Independent Practice

Have students write 2 things they learned from the lesson and one thing they still feel
unsure about. (On the exit ticket).

Materials
An iPad for each student, Angry Birds 2 iPad app, Whiteboard app, Angry Birds theme song
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9p2Ev1q1PNw), Venn diagram poster, colored job cards,
balls to throw at the towers, score cards, an exit slip for each student, treat bags, and
PowerPoint.
Duration

45 minutes