Franke_Inventions and Engineering Middle School -Monday-period 3 Assignments

This week you will be doing a marble run challenge.
Use a cardboard box and cardboard struts to create a marble run. The marble must run for 60 seconds. If you don't have a marble, use any small ball you can find. Obviously if you use a larger ball like a golf ball or baseball, your track is going to need to be bigger.
Below you will find a brief write-up describing the challenge. The write up says to use a large cardboard box and tape. You can be creative, Use what you can find around the house. The only requirement is that it must take the ball 60 seconds to go from the top to the bottom. 60 seconds is longer than you might think.
Watch the intro video to get a better idea of what to build.
I have added a document below of some really neat marble run designs.
Most important thing for this challenge is to be creative and have fun.
Send me a picture or video of what you create.

Wow, I can't believe the pictures and videos of all the catapults and trebuchets. I am very impressed with all your creativity. If you didn't get a chance to make one yet, try making one for this week.
This week you get to play "siege the castle." Find a bunch of paper cups, plastic cups, small boxes, toilet paper rolls (or maybe just the empty tubes). Build a wall at least three or 4 objects high (some of you may need bigger objects than these). Depending on how your tests went last week, find a distance to place your catapult away that will let you knock down the wall.
How many shots does it take to knock it down? How accurate was your catapult? Could you hit the same spot over and over again.? Could you move your catapult and predict where it was going to hit?
Create a brief write up about what happened.
Have fun!

This week you will have a catapult challenge. See the attachment.
You are going to build a catapult. Find stuff from around your house to use to build your catapult, do not go out and buy stuff. Find a safe place to test your catapult.
Take pictures or video of your catapult to share with the class.

I have shared your famous architect presentations with your class only. Students can "view only" and I hope you enjoy reading about these architects and how they helped change society. I was very impressed with the quality of your work! I learned many interesting details.

Welcome Back!
I hope you all are doing well and staying healthy! As you know by now, we are doing an online format for our class. Things will be a bit different for now. I will send out a weekly video and some quick directions into your new google folder (on Monday). I will continue to use Google Classroom to communicate with you all and give you your assignments, post videos, share worksheets, etc.

You will need to check in with me once a week, You can do so in a few ways:
1. Adding a message to google classroom.
2. Sending me an email.
3. Come by and chat during my online office hours. (On Webex, Tuesday 10-11AM and Wednesday, 1-2 PM)
https://svvsd.webex.com/meet/franke_cinda

Assignments: On Mondays, I will post a google form and short video in my APEX class google folder. All assignments will still be found in the Google Classroom post for that week. Unfortunately, we can no longer work on our tiny houses so I have assigned this famous architect project for you all to explore. You may choose any famous architect that interests you, but I have also provided a list from which you can choose. Please follow the rubric attached below:

All shoe boxes need to be brought to school by this coming week- February 10th - 12th. I will be giving a homework grade for these. Please talk to me this week if you are unable to find a shoe box or similar sized box for your little house project.

We experimented with the Van De Graff machine to better understand the properties of electricity.

Homework: Remember to bring in your shoe box.

We continued to work on our Snap Circuit Activity to better understand how electricity works.
Homework: Please bring in a regular sized shoe box if you have not already.

Begin learning about electricity.
During class: Using the snap circuits sets. with your partner you will read through chapter 1 of the manual and fill out the worksheet as you go. Build the required circuits as you read. You will have two class periods to complete the worksheet. If you finish early, you can create other builds with the snap circuit kits.
Homework:
Read "the 7 basic sources of electricity you should know about" and watch the videos that go with it.
Don't forget you need to bring in a large shoe box.

Welcome Back!
Students were introduced to Spheros (Robotic sphere) for programming parts of the bridge as a review from our unit last semester.
Homework: If you have any regular sized shoe boxes please bring with you to use for our next project.

Bridge Challenge: Teams continued to complete the "Bridge Challenge", using straws, yarn and rubber bands to build a free standing bridge to support weight.

Homework: "Bridge Project" presentations due next week. Attached is the rubric I will use to grade the presentations next week.

Challenge #1 build day 1: Students are working on their plans for their bridge challenge and as approved by teacher are beginning the build this week.
Homework: Continue working on your bridge project presentation; this class will be presenting on October 7th.