Research Project Presentations

Engineers

This morning, we used our new skill of turning details into generalizations in relationship to engineers.  Using the list of engineering fields we created yesterday, 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 create things that help improve life.

Engineers

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

First, we used the iPads to research how many engineering field exist. We came up with quite  a long list!

Aerospace

Agricultural

Audio

Automotive

Biological

Biomedical

Biosystems

Bioweapon

Building

Ceramic

Chemical

Civil

Communications

Computer

Computer hardware

Construction

Electrical

Electromagnetic

Electromechanical

Electromechanical systems

Electronic systems

Environmental

Fire protection

Food

Forestry

Gas

Geological

Geophysical

Industrial

Integrated

Manufacturing

Marine

Materials

Math

Mechanical

Metallurgical

Mineral

Mining

Naval

Nuclear

Ocean

Petroleum

Physics

Plastics

Production

Software

Unified

Water resource

Then, we listed inventions that could be created to make our lives better, easier, and more fun.  I'm hoping some of these are actually created in my lifetime!

Better

inside brain computer

time machine

high tech playground

eye protection for video gaming

jet pack

telepathic scribe

speed reading hat

duplicating machine for objects

“house” plane

teleportation device

true firewall to create safe technology

morphing technology cases

Easier

 Better Siri

Flying chairs

Pet sitter

Robot to help you with everything

Clear tubes for human transportation

Car that could drive through buildings

Auto-pilot car

Knowledge filled ice cream cone

Flying car

Hoverboard

Flying shoes

Motorized roller skates

Humongous convertible flying pig

Underwater car

One size fits all clothes

More Fun

Jet packs t-shirts

Machine that can make anything

Bouncy floors

Bed with amenities that travels with you

A book that writes itself – neverending

A hat that can change to match

Flying squirrel suit with hovering capacity

Mental telepathy choose your own adventure book

Food making machine

Weather machine

Invisibility cloak

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.

Traps, Part II

Today, I informed the class that the Cane Toad has the ability to spit its venom up to 4 feet!  They were given the choice to amend their traps, build a new trap, or even create a trap for another animal if they felt their original trap was sufficient.  There are some very creative children in this class!