Activity 1 Engineering process
Index Card Challenge
Materials
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6 of the same textbook
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150 index cards (25 per group)
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12 feet of scotch tape (2 feet per group)
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Engineering Design Process Worksheet
Begin activity by showing pictures of bridges. Then in partners discuss what was the process to behind building the bridge? Did they just start building? Why did they even build a bridge? As a class discuss the answers from each pair. Then present the engineering design process. Draw a flowchart on the board of the different steps. First there needs to be a problem such as how can many people cross a river without a boat? Second solutions need to be brainstormed for example a bridge above the water or a floating dock. Third, one idea is selected. Fourth, the design and structure is created. A model of the bridge above the water could be built. Fifth the creation needs to be tested. The sixth step is to improve and tested again until it is ready to finally be shared. Many models for a bridge could be built and tested before the final plans for the bridge are ready to be shared.
Students will follow this process on their own with the following challenge. How can you build the tallest structure to support a textbook only using index cards and tape. Following the engineering design process on their worksheet students will identify the problem. Brainstorm solutions create and test and create and test again until they are ready with their final product.
Activity 2 Carbon Dioxide removal
Is it possible to remove carbon dioxide from the air?
Materials
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Air quality meter that can detect carbon dioxide levels (one per group)
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Toilet paper tubes (2 per group)
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Coffee filters (6 per group)
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Activated charcoal ( same amount for each group
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Hot glue
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Lab Worksheet
In this challenge, students will be asked to design and test a filter to remove carbon dioxide from the air. This lab will come after a short lecture on carbon sequestration. Using the tube, coffee filters, hot glue and activated carbon students will design a filter. Next they will test whether or not their filter works. By taking several carbon dioxide level readings. They will be asked to take the measurement of the CO
2
in the air in the room, the amount of CO
2
at the end of the tube when they breathe through the empty tube and the CO
2
level after they breathe out into their filter. Using this information they will conclude whether or not their filter works and write a conclusion including evidence.
Activity 3 Alternative Energy Wind Power
Materials
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Kidwind Advanced Wind Experiment Kit (vernier) [11]
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Multimeter
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Separate fan to simulate wind
In this lab activity students will design the blades of a fan that generate the most power. Students will be given manila folders to cut out their designs from and tape to attach the fan blades the dowels. The dowels connect with the circular centerpiece which attaches to the fan motor. Once the students are ready to test their design the fan will provide the wind to make the model turbine spin with the students fan blades and the multimeter can be used to measure the current generated. The engineering design process will be followed and the students will have the opportunity to optimize their design.
The second half of this activity will be a simple life cycle activity where student will identify what the inputs, outputs and waste disposal of a wind turbine by making a charts and having a discussion what would need to be true for a wind turbine to be a green efficient solution for alternative energy.