Remote Learning
Mr. Lee is always available for chat or email from 9 - 11 am everyday!
6/10/2020 A time to look back....
I'm not posting any new challenges this week... Instead, my hope is that if you have not had a chance to look through any of the REMOTE DTE activities, that now would be a great time. You got this!
6/1/2020 It's June and the animal are on the move!
Below is this weeks DTE challenge... (as well as the following weeks if you want to see what else has been offered)
Walking Paper Animals
- This weeks challenge is to design and make some paper animals to race.
- Make, test, and design your own! Make them GO!!!
FIRST... Watch one of these....
NOW... collect materials and tools...
- Paper or thin cardboard for animal
- something to make a slope with
- Pencil/pen
- Ruler
- scissors
NEXT....
Use the measurements below OR the one's in the above videos to create your animal.. Cut, and then fold to animal shape...
Now...
Test your animal!
- Can you make it faster? Slower?
- Add some weight in different places.
- Change the lengths of the legs or head. Does it make a difference?
- HAVE FUN and Happy Trails!
As always PLEASE,PLEASE, PLEASE share any photos of your creations with me either via email or the Design Tech sharing link found to the left... I look forward to seeing your creations!
5/26/2020 It's Hot! Lets float! It's Boat building time!
Below is this weeks DTE challenge... (as well as the following weeks if you want to see what else has been offered)
- This week we will be looking at what makes a boat...well, a boat!
- How do they float?
- What shapes work? What shapes don't?
- Do certain materials work better?
- How much cargo can your boat carry?
- Can you make your boat move using wind?
BOAT BUILDING!!!
The rules are simple!
Check out the videos below for some introductory research.
Start your testing space small. Like in a sink or tupperware. No need to take to seas before we know these things work!
Experiment with several shapes and several materials. Hint > some work WAY better than others.
Once you have something that floats on its own, there are 2 directions to go with this challenge.
Cargo. How much can your boat carry without sinking. I like using pennies for this. Can you design a $1 boat?
Movement. Can you design a sail that enables your boat to move on its own? (you'll need to provide a little breeze by blowing). BUT...say you can get it to move, how with you keep it going straight???
Materials list...
You won't need everything on this list, but you might find some of it helpful in your nautical adventures this week.
- Aluminum foil
- Straws
- Sheets of paper
- Pennies
- Tape
- Cling wrap
- Small tupperware
- And anything else you think of along the way!
- And GOOGLE! There are SOOOO many great ideas for these boats out there. Check it out!
So why do boats float???
The aluminum boat test!
So you got skills?
5/18/2020 It's Tower Time!
Below is this weeks DTE challenge... (as well as the following weeks if you want to see what else has been offered)
Let's Build UP!
This week's challenge is a simple one, well maybe....
1. Find a single material you have a lot of: pasta, bolts, sticks, rocks, paper cups, etc....
2. BUILD the tallest tower you can with that single material. Measure it and send me a photo. If you have time build a bunch. How about an entire city!
3. So that's it... build build build...
As always PLEASE,PLEASE, PLEASE share any photos of your creations with me either via email or the Design Tech sharing link found to the left... I look forward to seeing your creations!
5/11/2020 RUBE GOLDBERG IS HERE!
Below is this weeks DTE challenge... (as well as the following weeks if you want to see what else has been offered)
Reuben Garrett Lucius Goldberg, known best as Rube Goldberg, was an American cartoonist, sculptor, author, engineer, and inventor. Goldberg is best known for his popular cartoons depicting complicated gadgets performing simple tasks in indirect, convoluted ways.
He was born on July 4, 1883, in San Francisco, California.
You're going to want to watch this first!
So...where do I start?
Well, it helps to have a goal. Like, what is the machine actually trying to do for me? Here are some ideas...
Drop a bar of soap in your hand
Ring a bell
Turn on or off a light switch
Or...simply build a machine that successfully completes all of its components start to finish.
The big idea...
...is that this machine makes use of several unique operations that run in sequence to achieve a final goal. Some ideas could include...
- A row of dominoes
- A teeter/totter or fulcrum of some kind
- A wheeled object that gets pushed or pulled
- String and simple pulleys
- Random objects around the house that you've repurposed!
Here's the thing...
It's probably not going to work on the first try.
Actually it's probably not going to work on the second try either.
But that's ok.
This project will take PATIENCE. But, I promise, you'll love it!
And now the Nitty Gritty details....
- Pick a smart place to work. And this means a spot that you can leave this machine assembled for several days. So...not in the middle of your living room floor.
- Try to include at least 5 unique oppertations in your machines.
- Remember, gravity is your friend.
- Google! You guys, there are soooooo many ideas online for these machines. Dive in and search for "Rube Goldberg Machine"
- Don't give up! Doing these projects are well worth the time it takes to do them well.
- Send me a video or picture of your creations!
WHOA!
AMAZING!
ELECTRIC!
5/4/2020 Another exciting week of new Design Technology Challenges!
Below is this weeks DTE challenge... (as well as the following weeks if you want to see what else has been offered)
Nature Engineering Challenges!
This weeks challenges are meant to get you outdoors! and build some stuff...
So gets some rocks, get some sticks and get building!
Build a Stone tower with a least 5 rocks
Design and build a tower made of sticks that can hold a rock the size of your fist on top.
Build a woven structure...
Build an Inuit Inukshuk
(a more advanced rock tower)
Build a stone or stick archway or bridge
(now we're getting serious!)
As always PLEASE,PLEASE, PLEASE share any photos of your creations with me either via email or the Design Tech sharing link found to the left... I look forward to seeing your creations!
4/27/2020 WELCOME BACK!!! hope everyone had a great week! We miss you more than ever!
Below is this weeks DTE challenge...
BUILDING BRIDGES!!!
How much weight can your design hold and how will you improve it through trial and error?
MATERIALS...
A site. Where will your bridge go? Hint...try for smaller spans first...like 8" to 12". We can get bigger once we've got a handle on what we're going.
Paper. At least 5 sheets to start with. Get creative...cereal boxes, newspaper, old magazines, etc.
Abutments. The two things that support either end of the bridge.
Weight. Pennies, nickles, quarters... are my favorite because you can slowly and predictably add weight. But anything will work. Just make sure that each unit of weight is pretty minimal...like...instead of using grapefruits, try using paper clips.
The BIG questions...
- How much can your bridge hold?
- How far can your bridge span?
- How can you achieve your best results with as few materials as possible? > Hint...this is where it gets super fun!
Paper bridge tips
What makes bridges strong?
Paper bridge examples
SEND ME A PICTURE OF YOUR DESIGN!!!
Use the sharing link! I can't wait to see your work!
How Much $$$ can your bridge hold???
4/13/2020 Hope all is well... More DTE activities for your home world... enjoy...
1. Paper airplane challenge... see vid and links below...
2. Cardboard Challenge SEE SLIDE SHOW BELOW
PAPER AIRPLANE CHALLENGE
Make a paper airplane that can carry a cargo and glide more than ten feet (not be hurled, but actually glide). The cargo is money-coins. And the winner is the Student who could fly the most money.
challenge set up
IF you can take a photo or video and share it with Mr. Lee... use either the DTE sharing link or email.... willie.lee@mmuusd.org
Designs Tech Activities and Challenges
by category...
2D Design
3D Design
Engineering and Making
Coding