Nail Puzzle Lesson Plan - MTU Mind Trekkers

MIND TREKKERSNail Puzzle Lesson PlanAmount of time Demo takes: 3-10 minContainer: small binMaterials :1.Wood base with nail (5 bases)2. Box of nails (1 box)Length 9 cm (3.5”)Diameter approx. 1 cm (5/16”)3. Hammer, for fixing nails in wood block if needed -- this can be found in the silver toolbox wetake on each road show.SAFETY! -- Safe demo if nails are used as they are intended.Lesson’s big idea● Students will be able to investigate the concept of center of mass.● Cause and effect, balance and stable equilibrium.● Students will investigate solutions to problems through inquiry-based learning.Instructional Procedure1. Set out nail and wood block with loose set of nails.2. Encourage students to investigate by trial and error to make asmany nails as possible balance on the nail head (pivot point in thebase). Hint: It is possible to arrange the nails so that theyinterlock with each other.3. Give sufficient time before offering help or suggestions. Thisdemo is about the process of problem solving, not showing themhow to do the puzzle! It is OK if they don’t solve it, encouragethem to make one at home and keep trying.4. Second puzzle: give them 2 wood blocks with nails and try to balance as many nails aspossible from the two nails.Assessment:1. Do you think you could find a different solution that held up as many/more nails?2. What was the key to solving your puzzle?Conclusion

Finding a solution to a problem is not always possible on the first try. Through lots of trialand error, you may find one solution. Science is a lot of trial and error when solving problemspatience and looking at a problem in different ways is helpful.Clean UpPut the nails back neatly in their boxes, and place everything back in the bin.References :http://www.puzzlesolver.com/puzzle.php?id=5http://www.raft.net/ideas/Nail%20Puzzle.pdfhttp://www.teamworkandteamplay.com/resources/tt_nailpuzzle.pdfNational Standards:K-4 Content Standard A, Science as Inquiry, Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiryK-4 Content Standard B, Physical science, Position and motion of objects5-8 Content Standard A, Science as Inquiry5-8 Content Standard B, Physical Science, Motions and forces9-12 Content Standard A, Science as Inquiry9-12 Content Standard B, Physical Science, Motions and forces