I3 - Inquiry: The Ultimate School Bag - Grades 5-6 (P212E)

Invention, Innovation, and Inquiry (I3)
Invention, Innovation, and Inquiry: Units for Technological Literacy, Grades 5–6, was funded by the National Science Foundation. This project is so named because invention and innovation are the hallmarks of technological thinking and action. Each unit has standards-based content, suggested teaching approaches, and detailed learning activities, including brainstorming, visualizing, testing, refining, and assessing technological designs. Students will learn how inventions, innovations, and systems are created and how technology becomes part of their lives.

All units contain teacher background information, handouts, transparency masters, and a student packet. Each unit is designed to integrate mathematics and science with technology and take 8 to 10 days.

Inquiry: The Ultimate School Bag
Students use inquiry skills to redesign a school bag and construct a model of the "Ultimate School Bag." (Download)