Technology in a Bag

Technology in a Bag

Science Process Skills

observing

communicating

comparing

categorizing

Materials (per pair)

technology bag that contains 15-20 of the following types of objects (try to include a good mix of items that represent technology and those that do not): pencil, peanut in the shell, pine cone, safety pin, cork, screw, bone, seed, leaf, shell, pen, eraser, yarn, ruler, paper clip, small battery, paper fastener, Band-Aid, rock, cotton swab, feather, rubber band, stick or twig

Alternative: The actual items work best, but you could find pictures of items from magazines (or have youth search for examples of items from magazines).

Doing the Activity

Ask youth to define technology. Lead a short discussion on what is technology.

Put youth in groups of two.

Give each pair of participants a prepared technology bag.

Allow youth 5-10 minutes to divide the items into two groups; those that represent technology and those that do not.

Reflecting

Ask your partner or other people in the group some of these questions. Which items did you think were technology? Why? Which items did you think were not technology? Why?

What characteristics are common to the items in the technology group? What characteristics are common to the items in the nontechnology group?

Which group has items that are human-made? Why?

Applying

Is there anything you can think of that would be technology and nontechnology? What about art? When is art technology? When is it not? Does all art have a functional purpose?

What's Happening

Technology is so common in our everyday lives that we often don't realize all the technologies that surround us. Technology is not just computers, televisions, and VCR's, but also many of the more simple inventions that led up to what we view as technology today. Technology starts with someone working on an idea to make something different or using a scientific principle to make something new to meet a need or solve a consumer problem. This invention may then become part of our everyday lives.

More Challenges

Keep a scrapbook or bulletin board of newspaper and magazine articles on technology.

Name or list examples of technology found in your home. Which ones are most important in your life? Why? Which ones could you live without?

Activity Source

"Biotechnology School Enrichment, Grades 5-6," Iowa State University Extension- Science, Engineering and Technology Youth Initiative, 32 Curtiss Hall, Ames, IA 50011, To order: publication #4H-955D grades 7-8; 4H-955C grades 5-6; ISU Extension Distribution Center, 119 Kooser Drive, Ames, IA 50011, (515) 294-5247.

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	Technology in a Bag
	Science Process Skills observing communicating comparing categorizing
	Materials (per pair) technology bag that contains 15-20 of the following types of objects (try to include a good mix of items that represent technology and those that do not): pencil, peanut in the shell, pine cone, safety pin, cork, screw, bone, seed, leaf, shell, pen, eraser, yarn, ruler, paper clip, small battery, paper fastener, Band-Aid, rock, cotton swab, feather, rubber band, stick or twig Alternative: The actual items work best, but you could find pictures of items from magazines (or have youth search for examples of items from magazines).
	Doing the Activity Ask youth to define technology. Lead a short discussion on what is technology. Put youth in groups of two. Give each pair of participants a prepared technology bag. Allow youth 5-10 minutes to divide the items into two groups; those that represent technology and those that do not.
	Reflecting Ask your partner or other people in the group some of these questions. Which items did you think were technology? Why? Which items did you think were not technology? Why? What characteristics are common to the items in the technology group? What characteristics are common to the items in the nontechnology group? Which group has items that are human-made? Why?
	Applying Is there anything you can think of that would be technology and nontechnology? What about art? When is art technology? When is it not? Does all art have a functional purpose?
	What's Happening Technology is so common in our everyday lives that we often don't realize all the technologies that surround us. Technology is not just computers, televisions, and VCR's, but also many of the more simple inventions that led up to what we view as technology today. Technology starts with someone working on an idea to make something different or using a scientific principle to make something new to meet a need or solve a consumer problem. This invention may then become part of our everyday lives.
	More Challenges Keep a scrapbook or bulletin board of newspaper and magazine articles on technology. Name or list examples of technology found in your home. Which ones are most important in your life? Why? Which ones could you live without?
	Activity Source "Biotechnology School Enrichment, Grades 5-6," Iowa State University Extension- Science, Engineering and Technology Youth Initiative, 32 Curtiss Hall, Ames, IA 50011, To order: publication #4H-955D grades 7-8; 4H-955C grades 5-6; ISU Extension Distribution Center, 119 Kooser Drive, Ames, IA 50011, (515) 294-5247.