This 10 week course starts with a few introduction activities and discussions about the impacts of technology.  The engineering design process is introduced in a project report that is used for all projects and activities that we use in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade.  This project report follows the steps of the engineering design process to solve the problems we challenge our students with.

Scaled drawings, blueprints, and floorplan layout are all taught at the beginning of our unit.  Students will start their architectural model by designing a blueprint to be scored and cut on our Gowforge laser engraver.  Interior & exterior walls made out of polycarbonate and matboard are cut and glued onto the project with hot glue.  Students then have the ability to add anything they want to their model by using the hand tools taught up to this point.  

This unit teaches foundational skills that will be utilized in their 8th grade computer science class.  Students will be introduced to the basics of programming by using scratch coding to direct our new Lego Spike robots.  In small groups, students will uncover unique problem solving and critical thinking challenges, and reverse engineering challenges. 

Each student will be challenged with building a candy dispenser out of wood using the drill press, belt sanders, band saw, and hand tools.  Everyone will be trained and required to complete a safety evaluation as a prerequisite for completing the project.  This project will need to follow the specific building requirements but allow freedom to alter the final appearance of their design.