Swing Set Makeover

What if you could challenge your third graders to design playground equipment that safely meets their own standards for fun? Swing Set Makeover helps students understand the science behind the play structures they regularly use as they work to create new and improved playground designs. Student teams will survey existing types of playground equipment, compare them for both safety and fun factors, build models of their proposed designs, and write blogs to summarize the improvements. Along the way, they’ll learn about motion, forces, and geometric shapes; collect data using mathematical tools; record data with line plots and bar graphs; and use the engineering design process.

Dr. Carla C. Johnson is the associate dean for research, engagement, and global partnerships and a professor of science education at Purdue University's College of Education in West Lafayette, Indiana. Dr. Johnson serves as the director of research and evaluation for the Department of Defense- funded Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP), a global portfolio of STEM education programs, competitions, and apprenticeships. She has been a leader in STEM education for the past decade, serving as the director of STEM Centers, editor of the School Science and Mathematics journal, and lead researcher for the evaluation of Tennessee's Race to the Top- funded STEM portfolio. Dr. Johnson has published over 100 articles, books, book chapters, and curriculum books focused on STEM education. She is a former science and social studies teacher and was the recipient of the 2013 Outstanding Science Teacher Educator of the Year award from the Association for Science Teacher Education (ASTE), the 2012 Award for Excellence in Integrating Science and Mathematics from the School Science and Mathematics Association (SSMA), the 2014 award for best paper on Implications of Research for Educational Practice from ASTE, and the 2006 Outstanding Early Career Scholar Award from SSMA. Her research focuses on STEM education policy implementation, effective science teaching, and integrated STEM approaches.

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