Effort Experiment Lesson Plan Effort Experiment
Lesson Plan • 2nd Grade • 30 Minutes
Tier 1 Lesson
Objective
Students will record practice time vs. performance in a mini skill and graph results to understand how effort influences outcomes.
Why this Matters
Understanding that effort and practice can improve skills is crucial for developing a growth mindset and perseverance. This lesson provides a hands-on experience to demonstrate this connection.
Materials
Paper (one sheet per student)
Effort Graph Worksheet
Data Accuracy Rubric
Effort Experiment Script
Effort Experiment Slide Deck
Preparation (10 Minutes)
• Gather one sheet of paper per student.
• Review the Effort Experiment Script to familiarize yourself with the talking points and flow.
• Print enough copies of the Effort Graph Worksheet for each student.
• Have the Data Accuracy Rubric ready for assessment.
• Prepare the Effort Experiment Slide Deck for display.
Step-by-Step Instructions
5 MIN
Phase 1
Introduce the Challenge
Use the slide deck to introduce the paper airplane challenge. Explain that students will be designing and flying a paper airplane, focusing on how practice affects their performance. Distribute paper and refer to the script for phrasing.
10 MIN
Phase 2
Practice Trials
Instruct students to fold their planes. Guide them through 2-3 practice throws, emphasizing improvement. Encourage different folding or throwing methods. Students record their practice throws on their worksheet.
8 MIN
Phase 3
Record & Graph Results
Have students conduct their final "performance" throw and record the data. Guide them in translating their "First Throw" and "Final Throw" data into a bar graph on their worksheet.
5 MIN
Phase 4
Analyze Results
Lead a discussion using the script: What do you notice? Did your airplane fly farther with practice? What does this tell us about putting in effort? Emphasize that most students will see improvement.
2 MIN
Phase 5
Connect to Mindset
Conclude by connecting the experiment to other areas of life (reading, sports, math). Reinforce the concepts of effort and growth mindset. Collect worksheets for review.
Effort Experiment Slides The Effort Experiment
Can Practice Make Perfect?
2nd Grade Science Lab
What is Effort?
Trying your best!
Working hard!
Not giving up!
Today's Mission
Design and fly a paper airplane to see how effort changes our results!
Ready, Set, Practice!
Why do we practice?
To learn new things!
To get better!
To see how much we can improve!
Your Mission:
1 Fold your best airplane.
2 Throw it to practice.
3 Think: How can I fly farther?
Your Effort Graph
01 First Throw
Fly it once. Measure it. Record the distance!
02 Practice Time
Try 2-3 more times! What can you change?
03 Final Throw
Fly it again! Measure the new distance.
Then, we'll turn those numbers into a graph!
See Your Progress!
Look at your Effort Graph Worksheet . Color in the bars for your 'First Throw' and 'Final Throw'.
First Throw
Final Throw
Did your airplane fly farther after practicing?
Effort Pays Off!
Did your airplane fly further with practice?
How did your effort change your results?
What else can you get better at with effort?
Keep Trying, Keep Growing!
When you try hard, you learn !
When you practice, you improve !
Keep a 'can-do' attitude in everything you do!
Effort Graph Worksheet Lab Report: Effort Experiment
Scientist Name:
Date:
1 Part 1: Fly Your Airplane!
First Throw
Fold your airplane. Fly it one time! Measure how far it flew.
My First Throw Distance:
(feet / inches)
Practice Time!
Fly your airplane 2-3 more times. Think about:
Hand Grip
Throw Power
Wing Folds
One thing I changed during practice:
Final Throw
After practicing, fly your airplane one last time. Measure it!
My Final Throw Distance:
(feet / inches)
2 Part 2: Graph Your Effort!
Draw a bar graph showing your First Throw and Final Throw . Don't forget to label the bars!
First Throw
Final Throw
Distance (How Far It Flew)
Thinking like a scientist:
What did you notice about your graph? Did effort make a difference?
Data Accuracy Rubric Data Accuracy Rubric
Effort Experiment Assessment
Grade Level
2nd Grade
Student:
Total Score:
/ 12
Criteria 4 - Excellent 3 - Good 2 - Dev. 1 - Support Measurement Recording
| Clearly records both First Throw and Final Throw distances with correct units. | Records both distances, but may have minor unit inconsistency or one small error. | Records one or both distances with some inaccuracies or missing units. | Distances are missing or largely inaccurate. |
|
Graphing Data
| Graph is accurately drawn and clearly labeled (axes, throw types). | Graph is mostly accurate with minor labeling omissions or small drawing errors. | Graph is present but has significant inaccuracies or missing labels. | Graph is missing or does not represent the data. |
|
Effort Reflection
| Reflects clearly on how practice impacted performance, showing understanding of effort. | Shows some understanding of effort's impact, but reflection could be more detailed. | Limited reflection on effort, or difficulty connecting practice to results. | No meaningful reflection on effort or its impact. |
Teacher Feedback & Observations
SCORING GUIDE: 11-12 (Exceeds Expectations), 9-10 (Meets Expectations), 7-8 (Approaching Expectations), 0-6 (Needs Improvement)
Effort Experiment Script Instructional Script
Teacher Resource
This script provides guided talking points and cues to ensure the Effort Experiment lesson flows smoothly and key mindset concepts are reinforced.
Introduction: The Power of Effort (5 Minutes)
Teacher Action
Gather students to the carpet or central area. Display Slide 1.
SAY: "Good morning, everyone! Today, we're going to do something super exciting – an 'Effort Experiment'! Have you ever heard the word 'effort'? What do you think it means?"
[Wait for student responses. Encourage answers like "trying hard" or "not giving up."]
SAY: "That's right! Effort means trying your best, working hard, and not giving up, even when something is a little tricky. Today, we're going to see how much of a difference our effort can make! We're going to become scientists and experiment with... paper airplanes!"
SLIDE CUE: Switch to Slide 1
Practice Trials (10 Minutes)
Teacher Action
Distribute paper. Walk around as students fold. Display Slides 2 & 3.
"Now, let's talk about practice! Why do athletes, musicians, or even we ourselves practice things? [...] Exactly! We practice to get better. For your first throw, I want you to just throw your airplane once. We'll mark how far it went. Then, you'll have some time to practice, make changes, and try to make it fly even better!"
HANDOUT CUE: Distribute Effort Graph Worksheet.
[Guide students through First Throw, then give them 3-5 minutes for focused Practice. Use the Slide 3 tips: holding, throwing, and wing folding.]
"Get to practicing! As you try again, ask yourself: 'How can I make this better?'"
Results & Graphing (8 Minutes)
Teacher Action
Transition students back to desks. Display Slide 4 & 5.
"Scientists, bring your airplanes back. You've had some great practice! Now it's time for your 'Final Throw'. This is where we see how much your effort paid off. Measure it, record it, and then look at Part 2 of your worksheet."
"Create a bar graph. Color in a bar for your First Throw and a bar for your Final Throw. What does the shape of your graph tell you?"
SUPPORT CUE: Circulate to help with graphing heights.
Analysis & Mindset (7 Minutes)
Teacher Action
Display Slides 6 & 7. Facilitate discussion.
"Look at your graphs. Did your airplane fly farther with practice? Why? [...] That's the power of effort! When we put in work, we grow. You can get better at reading, math, or anything else if you keep trying and don't give up!"
"Remember: When you try hard, you learn. When you practice, you improve. Keep that 'can-do' attitude in everything you do!"
