Created by Tara Hollomon and Andrea Moslener

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• Hamsterland

• Created by Tara Hollomon and Andrea Moslener
• April 2001
• Technology and Design Activity
• Designed for First Graders

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Design Brief

• Hooray!!!! We are receiving a new addition to
  our classroom a Hamster! However, the Hamster
  does not have a home yet. How can we help this
  homeless Hamster? It will be your job as a class
  to design and build a home for our Hamster.

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Design Brief (Continued)

• As a class and independently we will need to
  research the needs of a Hamster. Through this
  research we will need to make note of everything
  a Hamster needs to survive. Our goal will be to
  create the home completely out of recycled
  materials. While designing the home, keep in
  mind how the Hamster eats, exercises, sleeps,
  drinks, playsetc. Remember we will want our
  Hamsters home to fit in with the classroom, so
  it needs to be creative as well as orderly.
  Lets have fun and do our best to provide for the
  Hamster

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Purpose

• To give the children the opportunity to create a
  home for a hamster abiding by the following
  restrictions

• The home must be creative and orderly

• All of the hamsters needs must be met

• All materials must be either recyclable or
  recycled

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Important Details to Note

• Children will need to research fully the needs of
  a hamster before designing the home.
• Children will determine what recycled materials
  would be appropriate for the home.
• The children will be responsible for the care of
  the hamster.
• Children will document their research in
  journals.

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Links to Technology

• Follow Technology Standard 5 - Benchmark A

In order to discern the effects of technology on
the environment, students in grades K-2 should
learn that Some materials can be reused and/or
recycled.

• Children will also be utilizing the design
  process

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SOLS

• English (1.11) Comprehend nonfiction books
• History and Social Sciences (1.7) Describe how
  surroundings affect the life of people/animals.
• Math (1.17) Identify geometric figures
  (1.18) Data collection
• Science (1.5) Investigate needs of animals

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Materials Needed

• A myriad of recycled and recyclable materials

• A Hamster

• Nonfiction books about Hamsters

• Hamster food

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Final Productsample solution

• Top View of Hamsterland

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Final Productsample solution

• Close up view of top

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Final Productsample solution

• Side view

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Final Productsample solution

• HAMSTERLAND!!!!