Science+Enrichment

Building Big Website media type="youtube" key="v83KvVsPOCc" height="242" width="395"

Science Investigations This year, students will be investigating the concepts behind bridges and using these discoveries to design and build toothpick bridges. Note: This is a 9-week course for sixth graders. The class meets on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Extra Time? Cargo Bridge [|Confusion Game] - Getting to know you activity Bridge Building PowerPoint - Introduction to Bridges Video Segments - Understanding Bridges (1:37) & (4:06) Review Bridge Building Packet and Journal Entries
 * Day 1 **

Spaghetti Tower - Build the tallest tower using 50 pieces of spaghetti and only 70 cm of masking tape
 * Day 2 **

Spaghetti Towers
 * Day 3 **

Read pages 32-35 of packet Discussion Compression and Tension Billy Nye Bridges Video 6:00
 * Day 4 **

Building Big - Forces Lab - Complete section in packet The Bridge Challenge
 * Day 5 **

Structure Basics - pages 9, 32-35 (build structures with toothpicks and gum drops)
 * Day 6 **

Spaghetti Arms - Create the longest arm possible. May only be taped to the top of the table.
 * Day 7 **

Build Mini Bridges - No more than 40 toothpicks Test Bridge Strength
 * Days 8-10 **

Architectural Design Day - Start Designing Main Bridge Approval from Teacher and Suggestions from Peers
 * Days 11- 12 **

Construction of Bridges
 * Days 13-25 **

Test Bridges
 * Day 26 **

Clean Up Day
 * Day 27 **

[|bridge-types.gif]

Alternative Lesson - Building Big w/ David Macaulay: Bridges Video


 * Welcome to 8th Grade Science Investigations **
 * Programs to Explore**
 * Prezi - Zooming Presentations**
 * Glogster - Poster Yourself**
 * Weebly - Create a Website**


 * 4th Marking Period Schedule of Events: **

Extra Time: http://apps.exploratorium.edu/10cool/index.php?category=9&cmd=browse
 * Activities (subject to change): **
 * ** Building Big Activities - includes investigations into the basics of architecture and civil engineering. **
 * ** Leaning Tower of Pasta - create the tallest, and strongest, tower possible using only spaghetti noodles and mini-marshmallows. **
 * ** Puff Mobile - develop wind cars using various classroom items **
 * ** 3-2-1 Pop - Investigate rocket principles and Newton's laws to develop a paper rocket. **
 * ** [|Sketching Gadget Anatomy] - Observe and sketch common gadgets (prerequisite for "Be Inventive") **
 * ** Be Inventive - Design an invention to solve a specific problem. **
 * ** Traffic Solutions - Act as civil engineers to solve six real-world traffic situations, while on a budget. **
 * ** Design Squad - A variety of design challenges **
 * ** [|Engineering Magic] - Discover the science behind magic tricks. **
 * ** Design a Parachute - Research aerodynamics to design the most effective parachute. **
 * ** Airplane Alterations - Alter a balsa wood airplane for greater distance. **
 * ** Broken Bones - Act as biomedical engineers to create a better cast for broken bones. **
 * ** Biomimicry: Natural Designs - Look to nature for the design airplanes to swimsuits. What can we create based on the ideas from nature? **
 * ** Scientific Investigation - Students pose a question about the world around them, then use resources and investigations to answer their question. Students will create a Weebly Site (or similar) to document their findings. **

Past Lessons:
 * Monday 3/22

Complete Geodesic Dome Build || Tuesday 3/23

Online Activity Packet Park World || Wednesday 3/24 Online Activity Packet Alien Attack || Thursday 3/25

Online Activity Packet Ed Heads Weather || Friday 3/26

Extra Time? Try: Ocean Odyssey or Silicon Spies  ||
 * **Monday 3/15**

Video on the History of Domes || **Tuesday 3/16**

Geodesic Dome - Build Day || **Wednesday 3/17**

Silent Reading Outdoors || **Thursday 3/18**

Geodesic Dome - Build Day || **Friday 3/19**

No Class - Career Day ||
 * **Monday 3/8**

Vocabulary: dome

Class Investigation: [|Dome Basics]

Building Big Activity || **Tuesday 3/9**

Geodesic Dome Activity - Make Posts || **Wednesday 3/10**

Geodesic Dome Activity - Make Posts || **Thursday 3/11**

[|Astro Adventure] Online Activity || **Friday 3/12**

[|Astro Adventure] Online Activity ||
 * **Monday 3/1**

Video and Discussion on Domes || **Tuesday 3/2**

Tug-Push-Twist'O- War Lab || **Wednesday 3/3**

Discuss Results from Tug-Push-Twist'O- War Lab

[|Materials Lab] || **Thursday 3/4**

Class Does Not Meet || **Friday 3/5**

Complete Materials Lab || and Cons to Suspension Bridge Designs || Redesign of Suspension Bridges || Redesign of  Suspension Bridges - Test Capacity || Start Interactive Bridge Challenge || Class Does Not Meet - Cultural Diversity Assembly || Lab || Suspension Bridge Investigation || Start Building Suspension Bridge || [|Building Big Website]
 * Monday 2/22 || Tuesday 2/23 || Wednesday 2/24 || Thursday 2/25 || Friday 2/26 ||
 * Discuss Pros
 * Monday 2/15 || Tuesday 2/16 || Wednesday 2/17 || Thursday 2/18 || Friday 2/19 ||
 * [|Bridge Basics] || [|Forces Lab] || Review Forces
 * Monday 2/1 || Tuesday 2/2 || Wednesday 2/3 || Thursday 2/4 || Friday 2/5 ||
 * Introduce

Start Newspaper Tower Tower Activity || Newspaper Tower Activity || Building Big Vocabulary: [|force] and load

Straw Shapes Activity || Review Straw Shapes Activity || Complete Straw Shapes Activity || Activity || Snow Day || Video: Bill Nye Engineering and Architecture || Class Does Not Meet - Assembly ||
 * Monday 2/8 || Tuesday 2/9 || Wednesday 2/10 || Thursday 2/11 || Friday 2/12 ||
 * Shapes Lab || Paper Bridge

How to Chroma Key: [|Bluescreen] Service Announcement (PSA) Project [|Public Service] [|Announcement Handout]
 * Monday 1/4 || Tuesday 1/5 || Wednesday 1/6 || Thursday 1/7 || Friday 1/8 ||
 * Introduce Public

[|PSA Topic] [|and Script]

[|Final PSA] [|Project Rubric]

Students Brainstorm Possible Topics || Research Day for Possible PSA Topics

PSA Topic Proposal Due || Research Day for PSA Topics

Start Writing PSA Script || Finish Scripts

Make Prompt Cards

Select Background Pictures || Start Recording Using Blue Screen || media type="custom" key="5100115" PAST LESSON PLANS || Warp Speed - Get to Know You/ Cooperation Activity
 * ~ media type="youtube" key="k3e1pQqQ89Y" height="344" width="425"
 * Monday 11/9 || Tuesday 11/10 || Wednesday 11/11 || Thursday 11/12 || Friday 11/13 ||
 * Juggle Game and

Around the Rock Activity || Tower Building

Discuss Uses of Geometrical Shapes in Architecture - PowerPoint on Geometry and Architecture || Tower Building - Rebuild a Tower Using New Understandings of Geometry in Architecture || 1/2 Day

Class Does Not Meet || 1/2 Day

Class Does Not Meet || Building || Tower Building - Last Day
 * Monday 11/16 || Tuesday 11/17 || Wednesday 11/18 || Thursday 11/19 || Friday 11/20 ||
 * Tower

Reflection Paper || Graphic Organizer - Energy || Greatest Inventions with Bill Nye: Engineering and Architecture Video || Class Does Not Meet || Video Conference - Tornadoes || A.S.K. Video Conference - NOAA Meteorologist/ __Night of the Twisters__ || Tornado Websites [|Site 1] [|Site 2] [|Site 3] [|Site 4] || No School - Thanksgiving || No School || Coaster Project
 * Monday 11/23 || Tuesday 11/24 || Wednesday 11/25 || Thursday 11/26 || Friday 11/27 ||
 * Prep for
 * Monday 11/30 || Tuesday 12/1 || Wednesday 12/2 || Thursday 12/3 || Friday 12/4 ||
 * Introduce Roller

Discuss Potential and Kinetic Energy || Design Roller Coaster

Start Construction || Construction || Construction || Construction

Start Poster ||
 * Monday 12/7 || Tuesday 12/8 || Wednesday 12/9 || Thursday 12/10 || Friday 12/11 ||
 * Complete Poster

Practice Presentation

Final Touches || Roller Coaster Project Presentations || TRAC Kit - Quick Fixes: Analyze Traffic Scenarios and Select the Best Fix

Introduction and Analysis of the Scenarios || TRAC Kit - Discuss Scenarios and Select Best Solution || TRAC Kit - Compare Group Solutions to Results Sheet ||