Week 9, October 9 - 13
Engineering & Design
Days 1, 2, & 3 - The activity was introduced by discussing what engineering is, then we watched real live engineers working to design and engineer a new Harley Davidson motorcycle.
Following the engineering method we next identified the problem to be solved, which is that students will design and build a car that will go at least 30 feet powered only by the energy stored in a mousetrap spring.
Finally, we went online to learn as much as we could about how to design and build a successful mousetrap car. As we were learning, students were required to take notes. The guideline was that they were to record anything they didn't already know that applied to the design of a mousetrap car. Students were required to have one full page of notes (single spaced) for each full class period spent learning about mousetrap cars. Students will use their notes in the design process.
If you were absent or didn't get the required amount of notes you can make up the assignment by studying and taking notes from the web pages we used in class, which are https://www.docfizzix.com/topics/design-basics/MouseTrap-Cars/
and https://www.docfizzix.com/topics/construction-tips/Mouse-Trap-Cars/
You will need 1 and 1/4 pages of notes. You don't have to read all the information on the web pages. Look through and choose the information that is most important for the design of a long distance mousetrap car.
Since there will be very little opportunity to make up this assignment before the end of the first term, the notes will be applied to the second term's grade.
Day 4 - Students were reminded of the brainstorming process, then chose a partner and with their partner reviewed their notes and brainstormed ideas for the design of their mousetrap car.