# Little Engineers Curriculum Enhancement Guide (Lessons 1–10)

*Differentiation, Intervention Supports, Developmental Notes, Teacher Prep, and Slide Recommendations*

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## Lessons 1–5

### Lesson 1: A Friend for Rosie

- **Add after Piece Identification:** Supports for identifying pieces, vocabulary gestures, I Do–We Do–You Do.
- **Add after Gear Meshing:** Troubleshooting checklist for gears not moving.
- **Add before Building:** Step-by-step slides (materials, axle, gears, eyes, finished model).

### Lesson 2: Cheers for Gears

- **Add after Mini-Lesson:** Use students as gears to model direction changes.
- **Add before Guided Build:** Intervention small group with completed and half-built models.
- **Add during Guided Build:** Build checkpoints after each step.

### Lesson 3: Seesaws

- **Add after Mini-Lesson:** Concrete fulcrum demonstration using ruler and block.
- **Add before Guided Build:** Step-by-step support slides.
- **Add after Fulcrum Mini-Lesson 2:** Prediction sheet extension.

### Lesson 4: Light and Heavy

- **Add after Mini-Lesson:** Demonstrate bigger does not always mean heavier.
- **Add during Partner Weighing:** Tier 1, 2, and 3 supports.
- **Add before Sequencing:** Visual sequencing mats.

### Lesson 5: Slides are Inclined Planes

- **Add after Mini-Lesson:** Ramp vs. slide anchor chart.
- **Add before Rosie's Problem:** Prediction support.
- **Add during Building:** Teacher conferencing questions.

### Add to All 5 Lessons

- Developmental notes for Ages 3–4, 4–5, and 5–6 after every Mini-Lesson.
- Teacher Reflection Box before Closing Circle.
- **Day-Before Teacher Prep:** completed build, half-built build, slides, vocabulary cards, picture supports, assessment checklist, challenge cards.

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## Lessons 6–10

### Lesson 6: Getting From Here to There

**Add after Slide 4: New Words**

*Developmental Note*

- **PreK 3:** May confuse brick and plate. May need to physically touch pieces while naming them.
- **PreK 4:** Can identify pieces with visual supports.
- **Kindergarten:** Should independently identify most pieces.

*Teacher Support — if students cannot identify pieces:*

- Use a piece-matching mat.
- Limit to 2 pieces at a time.

**Add after Slide 7: Transportation Discussion**

*Teacher Prompt — if students cannot generate ideas, ask:*

- How do you get to school?
- Have you ridden a bus?
- What moves on water?
- What flies?

### Lesson 7: Cars and Ramps

**Add after Slide 3: Vehicles Need Wheels**

*Developmental Note*

- **PreK 3:** May struggle inserting axles through holes.
- **PreK 4:** Can insert axle with teacher support.
- **Kindergarten:** Should complete most axle assembly independently.

*Intervention Support — if axle will not fit:*

- Highlight hole with colored sticker.
- Demonstrate slowly.
- Provide partially assembled example.

**Add after Slide 8: Hypothesis Activity**

*Teacher Support — many students will not understand "hypothesis." Replace with:* "A smart guess."

Visual:

- 🤔 Guess
- 🧪 Test
- 📢 Tell what happened

### Lesson 8: Boats, Buoyancy, and Balance

**Add after Slide 3: Balance Both Sides**

*Developmental Note*

- **PreK 3:** Understand "same" and "different."
- **PreK 4:** Can compare sides visually.
- **Kindergarten:** Can intentionally balance structures.

*Intervention — if boat tips, teacher asks:*

- Which side has more pieces?
- Can we make them match? Use color-coded sides.

**Add after Slide 8: Water Testing**

*Teacher Checkpoint — STOP. Before testing, ask:*

- ☐ Are both sides equal?
- ☐ Is mast centered?
- ☐ Is boat sitting flat?

### Lesson 9: Bridges

**Add after Slide 3: Supports + Deck**

*Developmental Note*

- **PreK 3:** Focus on over/under.
- **PreK 4:** Understand connecting structures.
- **Kindergarten:** Understand support systems.

*Intervention — if bridge collapses, teacher models one step at a time:*

- Build support.
- Build second support.
- Add deck.

**Add after Slide 8: Matching Heights**

*Small Group Support — students struggling count bricks aloud, then compare:*

- 1 brick
- 2 bricks
- 3 bricks

### Lesson 10: Cranes

**Add after Slide 3: Worm Gear Introduction**

*Developmental Note*

- **PreK 3:** Focus on observing movement.
- **PreK 4:** Understand turning causes movement.
- **Kindergarten:** Explain how worm gear helps lift.

*Intervention — if students do not understand worm gear, compare to:*

- Screw
- Spiral slide
- Twisting motion

Use real objects.

**Add after Slide 6: Let's Build**

*Teacher Checkpoint — STOP after each step; teacher checks before students continue:*

- Step 1
- Step 2
- Step 3