Preliminary Proposal for Outreach Activity Box

What is the engineering principle that the children will learn?

The engineering principles that our activity box attempts to teach the childern are elemenry fluid dynamics, specifically flow rates. It also attempts to teach optimization techniques and teamwork.

What is the activity?

Our activity involves an inclined plane with two channels cut in it to allow a flow of water. These channels each have locations in which to place inserts of varying shapes (either straight or curved, or of varying width) to modify the water flow rate. These inserts will be made on a rapid prototyping process such as Layered Object Manufacturing or Shape Deposition. When a suitable path is decided upon, small boats will be started from the top of the path and raced to the bottom.

What age group is this activity designed for?

This activity is designed for children of ages 10 and up, or approximately fifth grade or higher. We feel that at younger ages, the children would not understand the concepts, and would just place pieces at random.

What will the children do, and how will they learn by doing it?

The children will have to look at all of the pieces provided, and determine which pieces will provide the highest flow rates. When these pieces are selected, they will also have to choose an order in which to put the pieces on the board. When these choices have been made, the boats will be raced. The children will learn by seeing the results of their choices, and the results of the other children's choices.

What will be in the activity box?

The activity box will contain all of the inserts, as well as a water return pump and some tubing to allow a continuous flow of water. The top of the activity box will be inclined and have places for the inserts to go.

How does your activity meet the requirements?

• Our activity engages the students in selecting components for a system, attempting to optimize based on a well-defined critera, a common engineering activity.
• Our activity will show students that engineers have to work with other people, and that the design process is often more important to the engineer than the construction process.
• Our activity is competitive but non-violent, and requires creation instead of destruction. Perhaps a reward could be given to the winning team, as additional motivation to participate.
• Our activity, when run in heats consisting of two teams of five, with those students not actively participating recieving instruction on elementary fluid dynamics, can occupy 30 children easily.
• Our activity contains no hazardous materials, and the only potential for creating a mess is by spilling water, which is a relatively minor problem.
• Our activity can be used by children regardless of disability.
• Our activity is easily transportable in a compact car.