Sunshades and Shadows Students participate in hands-on inquiry-based centers and guided activities to increase their knowledge of shadows and light. Students explore and manipulate light, using a light source to simulate the sun at various times of day and observe shadows, create and measure shadows, and test how various types of media block light. Students…
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Electric Vehicle: Body Design This lesson is designed to be done independently, consecutively, or concurrently with the Rolling Resistance, Transmission, Electric Power Source, and Electric Motor Lessons for the Electric Vehicle (EV) Unit. Power efficiency is the goal of all good environmentally conscious designs. As you will see throughout the EV unit, there are many…
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Compressed Air Vehicle This activity will introduce students to the use of compressed air as a means of propulsion. The goal is to allow students to discover the relationship between the amount of compressed air and the distance a vehicle is able to travel to determine the viability of compressed air for propulsion.Jet engines, also…
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Let It Shine This investigation is to introduce/solidify students’ working knowledge of sorting and classification. Through this process students will investigate light transmittance through everyday objects. The students will perform a simple flashlight test to classify objects into three predetermined groups; that of transparent, translucent, and opaque. Students will create class graphs to represent the…
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This activity will familiarize students with the history of aircraft propulsion beginning with the modeling of a vehicle using a propeller as a means of propulsion. The goal is to allow students to design an aircraft using specific materials that utilize air propulsion from a balloon as a means to travel. Using tools of measurement…
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Tires and Tracks Build Instructions Physical Science Grade band 3-5 – Benchmark C: Describe the forces that directly affect objects and their motion. Science and Technology Grade band 3-5 – Benchmark B: Describe and illustrate the design process. Scientific Inquiry Grade band 3-5 – Benchmark B: Organize and evaluate observations, measurements and other data to…
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In this activity, the students will explore and understand the assembly line process by engineering a cupcake decorating assembly and packaging line. By setting up an organized, well-thought out assembly line, students will learn how time, cost, and quality can be affected. Certain aspects of the assembly line will be explored, such as increasing production…
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Due to an increasing student population, along with student demand at City College, a multi-purpose sportsplex has been proposed. The school has set aside money and space (200,000 square feet) for development of a multi-function facility. Students will take on the role of civil engineers at an architectural firm and submit a design for this…
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March Madness is an exciting time of year when the best college basketball teams square off for a final tournament. Many students are enthralled by the games and become energized by basketball. This lesson begins by having student view a short video clip, “One Shining Moment” from the men’s NCAA basketball tournament. Students will then…
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Over the course of nine short lessons students will establish the benefits of a wind powered vehicle, explore the definition of a Formula One race car, compile materials suitable for this build, design a vehicle that can harness wind for propulsion, build a formula one wind racer, test their vehicle, redesign or modify based on…
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