My eighth grade students are eager to explore the world around them and engage in STEM studies through maker-oriented project-based science learning. Students at our school come from diverse cultural, racial and economic backgrounds.
These are high need students who learn best by making and doing.
They are curious, creative learners and who are eager to develop a deep understanding of science and engineering concepts through participation in relevant, meaningful and engaging maker projects. They never cease to amaze me with their innovative approaches to problem solving.
My Project
We are a STEAM school and integrate engineering, technology and art into our science maker work. Students study Kinetic energy and magnetism through a series of engineering design challenges. Last year students built and raced mousetrap powered cars while they studied Newton's Laws of Motion. Students really engage in this project and are so involved that they are working at lunch and after school working on their cars. Students really push themselves and have built cars capable of traveling over 150 feet. This year we plan to integrate magnetism and solar power into their alternative energy design challenge and take the creativity and innovation to a whole new level.
We need a maglev track, and related accessories as well as small motor kits and solar panels so that students can research, design, build and test alternative energy vehicle prototypes.
During the past two years we've built cars using mousetraps as the only source of power. We're ready to take our making to the next level and really challenge ourselves by incorporating other alternative methods of creating power, including magnetism just like the hyperloop, which uses a combination vactran/maglev technologies.'
Students will document their learning including their research, designs, plans, test results and the science behind their alternative energy vehicle by creating websites. We'll celebrate our achievements with a showcase and race day. We invite members from the community as well as alternative energy automotive engineers and experts to judge the races. Last year, several car racers, alternative vehicle designers, classic car owners and art car builders as well as a local innovative car manufacturer showed off their cars and answered students' questions at the showcase. We plan on doing this again this year and would love to invite our maker sponsors as well.
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