Research Project Presentations

Engineers

Yesterday, we used our new skill of turning details into generalizations in relationship to engineers.  Using the list of engineering fields we created on Tuesday, students researched deeper into a number of fields on their iPads.  From this research, each student wrote a phrase or statement on an index card.  We then sorted the cards into two groups. This enabled us to create the generalized statement: Engineers have specific fields that impact the world.

Engineering

We explored the statement: "Engineers make our lives better, easier, and more fun."

We researched on our iPads to create a master list of engineering fields.

Aerospace

Agricultural

Automotive

Biological

Biomedical

Chemical

Civil

Communication

Computer

Construction

Drafting & design

Electrical

Environmental

Geological

Interdisciplinary

Marine

Mathematical

Mechanical

Mining

Multiplex

Nanotechnology

Paper

Petroleum

Physics

Software

Systems

We also brainstormed inventions that could make our lives better, easier, & more fun.  I hope some of these items are actually invented in my lifetime!

Better
3-D Phone
hologram projector
giraffe saddle
a tent that one can throw like a Frisbee and it will set itself up
super bouncy shoes (1 step = 1 mile)
amusement parks
more convenience to retailers

Easier
transporter/teleportation
a way to live on Mars
danger robot - to do all the dangerous things so humans can stay safe
trans-morph (change into a bird and fly where you need to go)
dog toilet
morphing shoes
robot maid
money tree
talk to text on paper
talk to text printer
house cannon (project the cannon and fire - your house shoots out & builds itself)
fold able travel house

Fun
jet pack
wings
3-D living pet printer
hair gel that changes color to match one's mood
morphing
personal robot
money raining satellite
trampoline house
a machine to disguise objects as other things (money just looks like paper)
flying car
anything machine
government approved personal money printer
mind reading hat
living Pokemon

Finally, we discussed the possible drawbacks to engineering.  Students shared ideas of environmental effects on animals, pollutant effects, and increased waste from plastics.

Mass, Volume, & Density

Today, we explored mass, volume, & density.  We first watched a video to help explain the difference between mass & weight.  Then, we used balance scales, rulers, and magnifying glasses to observe and measure physical properties of rectangular prisms.  By measuring the volume and mass, we were able to calculate the density of the three prisms.  Each lab group created a hypothesis as to whether they believed the prisms would have the same or different masses/densities as they had very similar volumes.

To extend this activity, we then used irregularly shaped items instead of rectangular prisms.  We compared cherries and raspberries.  In order to determine volume, we learned to use water displacement in graduated cylinders.

Specific to General

This is the activity we completed as a class today to learn how to take details and create a generalization.

Students then chose their own animal to research, write details about, sort, and create a generalized statement.

Frames

We created frames using the areas of depth and complexity as related to ourselves an our own lives.

Toad Traps!

The Cane Toad was introduced to Australia in the 1980s as an effort to reduce the Cane Beetle population that was affecting farm produce.  Unfortunately, the toads did not eat the beetles. The toads reproduced at a very rapid rate and are poisonous. We learned more details about this pest, and were set to the task of designing humane traps for this animal.