INTERMEDIATE CHALLENGES
Let's have some fun. Below are four challenges - select one and be creative. CAUTION: your solution might not be perfect and you may try several times. As an engineer, you will constantly revise and improve your design.
PROCESS SHEET
This process sheet will guide your thinking. It is designed for students in grades 4 and up to complete independently. Students in grades 2 and 3 may have some assistance from the parents in reading and explaining the worksheet, but students would do their own writing. For K-1 students, parents are welcome to assist, as well as record or help with writing. NOTE: .doc is editable and you can type your answers. If you do not have access to a printer, just write your responses on any piece of paper!
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CONSTRAINTS
All challenges have constraint, or the rules we must follow. All four of our challenges have same material constraint ( you may have received these materials from your school or you can just get your own).
YOU CAN USE ONLY THE MATERIALS ON THE LIST.
( NOTE - YOU DO NOT HAVE TO USE THEM ALL)
YOU CAN ONLY USE AMOUNTS OF MATERIALS AS STATED ON THE LIST
YOU CAN USE ONLY THE MATERIALS ON THE LIST.
( NOTE - YOU DO NOT HAVE TO USE THEM ALL)
YOU CAN ONLY USE AMOUNTS OF MATERIALS AS STATED ON THE LIST
MATERIALS LIST
1. 5 sheets of construction paper (any colors)
2. 5 pipe cleaners (any colors)
3. glue stick (small)
4. 10 large paperclips
5. 15 small paper clips
6. 1 pencil
7. 4 straws with elbow (ones that bend)
8. 1/3 yard of 12 " aluminum foil
9. 3 sheets of regular white printer paper
10. 5 craft sticks ( any size - but all need the same size)
11. 9" x 12" Manila Extra-Heavyweight Clasp Envelopes
You may also use unlimited masking or scotch tape.
INTERMEDIATE CHALLENGES
CHALLENGE 1 - THE WESTING GAME
This challenge is for students who read the book " The Westing Game". If you have not yet read the book but like this challenge, our online book "club" is at http://sunsettowers.weebly.com/.
CHALLENGE: Sunset Towers are a strange place. What do you think they really look like? Design a model of the Sunset Towers. CONSTRAINTS: Materials ( listed above) Evidence from the book - you need 10 descriptions from the book that you are incorporating in your design. Size - the total height cannot be less than 12 inches or more than 24 inches; the area of the base cannot exceed 360 cm squared ( yep- there are two measurement systems- go figure!) |
CHALLENGE 2 - CHARLIE & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY
This challenge is for students who read the book " Charlie and the Chocolate Factory". If you have not yet read the book but like this challenge, our online book "club" is at http://wonkasummer.weebly.com/
CHALLENGE: Willy Wonka has some strange elevators! Now he has decided to sell his candy. He needs some extra help to get the payments from the candy floor to the cash register a floor above. Design a device that will transport 5 pennies ( cost of piece of candy) to the upper floor. CONSTRAINTS: Materials ( listed above) You can operate or hold your device, but you cannot touch the pennies after you placed them into your "elevator". The device has to do the lifting! All pennies have to be moved at the same time. The distance to lift the penny load is at least 15 inches. |
CHALLENGE 3 - MY FATHER'S DRAGON
This challenge is for students who read the book " My Father's Dragon". If you have not yet read the book but like this challenge, our online book "club" is at http://mydragonsummer.weebly.com/.
CHALLENGE: Elmer Elevator has to rescue a dragon from the island. Wouldn't it be easier if there is good bridge. You can help Elmer. Design a bridge that can hold a half pound bag of sugar (or a dragon!) CONSTRAINTS: (have a parent help you measure with the ruler, construct and test a bridge) Materials (listed above) It has to be at least 24 inches long It has to have at least 12inches that are standing at least 2 inches off the ground Only bridge supports can touch the ground The bag has to stay on the bridge for 20 seconds before ANY part of the bridge other than supports touch the ground. |
CHALLENGE 4 - FREE FORM
This challenge in not related to summer reading books. Anyone can do it. If you read the books, you are still welcome to choose this challenge!
CHALLENGE: PROTECT YOUR PAYLOAD As engineers of the future, you have to send a new satellite to the Saturn! The satellite is very sensitive and breaks easily. ( it also costs taxpayers like zillion dollars!!!!) Design a "capsule" to carry a sensitive payload to land on an unknown planet. CONSTRAINTS: materials ( listed above) Payload: egg (PLEASE HARD BOIL!!!! or there will be mess) base of your "capsule" has to be at least 12 inches long and 10 inches wide the height of the highest point of your device has to be at least 12 inches tall You must load a payload AFTER the device was built Must withstand 3 tests without cracking the payload a) drop of the capsule with the payload from 5 feet to the solid surface ( concrete, tile, cement...) b) 1 pound bag of sugar or flour on top of it for 30 seconds c) a golf ball dropped on it from 5 feet |