Mini Golf Course
Hello everybody!
In this project for the coming 4 weeks you will build in pairs (so max 2 persons) a mini golf course. The whole class together than will make 9. By the time they are finished, we will take a whole lesson for evaluation and grading and they will be tested by Elementary students.
There are steps you have to make. The docs and forms are also on this website, but you also have to turn them in by google classroom. That's why you will find assignments in your classroom, marked with the steps you will find here. I also will add a grading rubric, so you can choose your path to a high grade. The due date for this project is: Friday December 12! Grading will happen during the mid-term finals. (Dec 16-20 )
Good luck!
Step 1: The basics
What do engineers really do? Well, we know that they design, test, create and improve new and existing structures and systems and products. But, it can be hard to understand exactly what engineers do because engineers don’t all do the same thing!
Some practicing engineers complete all phases of the creation process—from the seed of an idea to selling a product in the marketplace—while others are focused on doing just one portion of the design process in depth—such as testing prototypes.
And then, different engineers work on all sorts of different projects—from designing cars to dams to artificial limbs to smartphones to shampoos and bubble gum. Did you know that some engineers design adventure theme parks and mini golf courses? It’s true!
Today, we will take what we have already learned about geometry and geometry tools—such as protractors and Miras—and practice as if we are engineers who design mini putt courses.
How are golf courses and mini putt courses designed? Are they just randomly built areas of sod and AstroTurf with holes, or are math and science accounted for to make the holes challenging but beatable? In designing any golf course hole, engineers need to be creative as well as know how angles, reflections and physics interact. Take a look at this video:
Creativity alone does not produce products, such as fun mini golf courses. That is why engineers study math, geometry and science in depth. Engineers need to first learn the math and science concepts that relate to the problem they want to solve, then apply their knowledge to design sophisticated models and prototypes of the system or project. They know that their on-paper designs might not work the same or as intended in the real-world, so they test to find out what works and what can be changed. Engineers fail and mess up every day, but they know that failure is a crucial and necessary step to achieving success.
Do: Experiment with these different courses, to find the angles to make a hole in one. If the worksheet is done correct, you will receive a 100 for this assignment. Click here for the worksheet (due November 14)
Step 2: Design
In this step you will make the design sketch. In order to make 1 design you have to solve a couple of restrictions, these will be measured and used at the end to determine the achieved grade. Here are the rules:
Your golfcourse does have to have a length of 1.75 meters, but no longer than 2.40 meters.
Your golfcourse does have to be at least 50 cm wide, but no wider than 100 cm.
Your baseplate will be made of wood
You are allowed to use some 3D printed elements, but it is not necessary.
You have to provide a Hole-in-one solution for your sketch. (like lesson 1)
with your sketch, you provide a list of desired materials.
you are encouraged to be creative with an extra difficulty in it. (like bumps, holes or loops etc)
think ahead of the colors you want to use.
The size of the hole will be for everyone 3inches wide
Materials you are allowed to use:
wood (provided by me)
3d printed items
paint
fake grass (though I can't provide it, but maybe you have some laying around)
green carpet (though I can't provide it, but maybe you have some laying around)
Once you are done drawing and making the outlines: You will make a photo (with your phone, or tablet or computer) of your sketch and turn it in by google. Once APPROVED by me, you will get a 100 for the assignment, and you have a green light to start building. Remember, I will only approve the design, if the design sketch does meet the rules above. YOU WILL HAVE TO BUILD THE DESIGN YOU HAVE DRAWN.
Good luck! (the sketch is due on Monday November 18)
Here's some places you could go to gather some ideas:
Step 4: Build!
The build fase is from November 21 till December 12. (That's 7 lessons)
When you work consequent on your project you should have enough time to finish it.
Step 5: Play and evaluate!
In the week of the midterm finals, we will set out our whole course and play it ourselves. After that we invite some groups from elementary to test out our complete Mini Golf course. We will use the rubric to determine your grade, but one part of the rubric will be filled in by the students from Elementary.
In order to stay on track for your grade, you can already find the rubric here