Section A

Group 4

Nate Danielson, Jeff Graybeal, Kurt Faulhaber

Project 3

Hangman/Bell Tower

1.What is the engineering principle that the children will learn?

Our activity will teach the children about various aspects of effective engineering. Cost effectiveness, design creativity, structural integrity, group cooperation, and working within specified requirements will all be applied in this project. The main focus of our project is to minimize cost while staying within specified parameters.

2.What is the activity?

In our activity, the class will be divided into groups of three (or four). Each group will be presented with the purpose of the activity. This purpose is multi-dimensional. First, each group will be supplied with a sufficient number of wooden blocks. These blocks will be different shapes. Each shape has a specific cost assigned to it. A cost chart will be made available to the entire class.

When a block is used during construction, its cost is added to the group's total cost. The idea of the activity is for each group to build the cheapest and tallest possible hangman or bell tower out of the blocks so that a part can be suspended from the tower by string. The part (either a bell or a man or some other thing) must hang entirely within the tower.

In order to make the activity more interesting and more challenging, a minimum height will be assigned for the tower. The winning group will combine the cheapest cost with the highest structure. We will have some type of grading scheme worked out in order to determine a winner. In order to provide motivation, the winning group will receive a prize.

3.What age group is the activity designed for?

This activity is designed for junior high students. seventh or eighth graders would most likely do best at this activity.

4.What will the children do and how will they learn by doing your activity?

First and foremost, the students will be forced to work in a group. This means that they will have to cooporate. In this group, the students will have to choose materials based on function and cost. They will also have to physically design and build their tower.

The students will learn the importance of cost effectiveness as well as the need to fit within assigned parameters that are assigned by others. Also, the students will have a hands on experience and will be able to physically see what works or does not work and why this is true.

5.What will be in the activity box? If appropriate, include a sketch of the activity.

Each activity box will contain an entire set of blocks (with the instruction that all blocks must and should not be used ideally), an object for suspension (made from a rapid prototyping process), string, and a cost chart of each shape of block.

Instructions will be given by the teacher/instructor, but a written copy of the rules for the project will also be included within the box.

6.How does your activity meet the requirements given above?

Our activity engages all types of students in an activity that combines various aspects of engineering such as cost effective design and obedience of parameters. Creative, competative, and all other types of children should enjoy this excercise ( if for no other reason than the extrinsic rewards). Also, many children can participate in this project at once. Wooden blocks have been child approved for centuries, and can be used to construct various different structures. They are also fairly inexpensive and can be transported in the smallest of cars.

This activity will not leave the classroom in shambles and is educational and fun, both for the student and for the observer.