Shape Helps It Work
Aligned to K-2-ETS1-2 — Next Generation Science Standards.

What this lesson teaches
The shape of an object helps it do its job, so drawing or building a model shows how the shape works.
Worked examples
Example 1
A boat has a wide, curved bottom so it can float and not tip over in the water.
Example 2
A door handle sticks out so your hand can grab it, unlike the flat door around it.
Example 3
An umbrella is curved so rain runs off the edges instead of pooling on top.
Practice questions
- Draw a spoon and show how its shape helps you scoop food.
- Build a model of a bridge and point to the part that holds it up.
- Explain why a kite is a flat, light shape instead of a heavy ball.
Watch the lesson
Every lesson comes with a video taught in English and Spanish — the same video the QR code in the printed workbook opens.
▶ Watch this lessonEn español
La Forma Ayuda a Funcionar
La forma de un objeto le ayuda a hacer su trabajo, por eso dibujar o construir un modelo muestra cómo funciona la forma.
Ejemplo 1: Un barco tiene un fondo ancho y curvo para poder flotar y no voltearse en el agua.
Ejemplo 2: La manija de una puerta sobresale para que tu mano la pueda agarrar, a diferencia de la puerta plana que la rodea.
Ejemplo 3: Un paraguas es curvo para que la lluvia escurra por las orillas en vez de juntarse arriba.
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