Invengineering Invengineering 20112011

Teacher: Meryl WolfTeacher: Meryl Wolf

Roberge Elementary SchoolRoberge Elementary SchoolWoodside Elementary SchoolWoodside Elementary SchoolRiver Vale, New Jersey, USARiver Vale, New Jersey, USAFifth Grade SAGE Students:Fifth Grade SAGE Students:

Holly, Christine, Lauren, Nicole, Holly, Christine, Lauren, Nicole, Matthew, Tyler, Justin, Rima, Seana, Cole, Matthew, Tyler, Justin, Rima, Seana, Cole, Emma, Jesse, Rachel, Justin, Chelsea, Emma, Jesse, Rachel, Justin, Chelsea, JackJack

Trillium Learning Global 21Trillium Learning Global 21stst Century Century Schools ProjectSchools Project

“ “Design TechnologyDesign Technology is a blend of is a blend of science and invention; it allows science and invention; it allows children to be involved in problem children to be involved in problem solving in the real world. It gives solving in the real world. It gives them the capability and the them the capability and the confidence to design, construct, and confidence to design, construct, and evaluate working models.evaluate working models.

BarbaraBarbara

SAGESAGE SAGE stands for SAGE stands for SSupplemental upplemental AAnd nd

GGifted ifted EEducation. Participants in the ducation. Participants in the fifth grade S.A.G.E. program spent the fifth grade S.A.G.E. program spent the first several months of this year on an first several months of this year on an InvengineeringInvengineering challenge so named challenge so named because the students are expected to be because the students are expected to be inventive and creative in their approach inventive and creative in their approach to tower design. Although, they have to tower design. Although, they have specifications to which they must adhere, specifications to which they must adhere, they are asked to develop a tower that is they are asked to develop a tower that is aesthetically appealing and attractive as aesthetically appealing and attractive as well as sturdy.well as sturdy.

Project OverviewProject Overview

Each team in the Northern Valley Each team in the Northern Valley Invengineering Expo Challenge must design Invengineering Expo Challenge must design and construct a model tower to be and construct a model tower to be destructively tested to determine the destructively tested to determine the design efficiency of the tower. The process design efficiency of the tower. The process is documented in a log book and/or photo is documented in a log book and/or photo journal. In addition, there must be an journal. In addition, there must be an exhibit for your work, and a 90 second oral exhibit for your work, and a 90 second oral presentation. presentation.

Project RequirementsProject Requirements

Before we began building our tower, we Before we began building our tower, we had to read the rules in had to read the rules in The Student The Student Guide To Tower BuildingGuide To Tower Building. We were given . We were given twelve 24” strips of 1/8 square balsa twelve 24” strips of 1/8 square balsa wood, green colored wood glue, and wood, green colored wood glue, and graph paper for diagrams of the top and graph paper for diagrams of the top and side views. We also used foam core board side views. We also used foam core board and wax paper when we were cutting. We and wax paper when we were cutting. We organized all of our equipment and organized all of our equipment and decided how we would proceed.decided how we would proceed.

In preparation, we read about towers, and In preparation, we read about towers, and learned about how to make them strong. We learned about how to make them strong. We went on the PBS building went on the PBS building BIGBIG site, site, http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig/ where where we learned about compression, tension, force, we learned about compression, tension, force, shapes, loads, and skyscrapers by using an shapes, loads, and skyscrapers by using an interactive lab.interactive lab.

The TowerThe Tower

The tower had to meet the following The tower had to meet the following specifications in order to be eligible to specifications in order to be eligible to compete:compete:

Four sides, with the top view being a squareFour sides, with the top view being a square Width of each side between 2 ¾” and 3”Width of each side between 2 ¾” and 3” Height between 8” and 9”Height between 8” and 9” The design must allow a ½” rod to pass The design must allow a ½” rod to pass

through the center from top to bottom.through the center from top to bottom.

DesignDesignWe planned a design as a group. We all We planned a design as a group. We all thought about it and then decided that thought about it and then decided that our design should be made up of our design should be made up of triangles. We chose triangles because triangles. We chose triangles because they are the strongest shape. This was they are the strongest shape. This was important since our towers needed to be important since our towers needed to be strong because they would be strong because they would be destructively tested later on. Next, destructively tested later on. Next, members of the teams started drawing members of the teams started drawing the design on graph paper to scale.the design on graph paper to scale.

Building ProcessBuilding ProcessWe used a variety of tools when we made our tower. We had several cutting tools. Two of them were thin or thick handles with blades (Exacto Knives) and two were angle cutters (Timber Cutters) that showed which angle to cut on. We used the angle cutter the most because we really needed to get the exact angle or the pieces of the wall wouldn’t fit together.

After designing the tower, the building After designing the tower, the building began! We started building the frame of the began! We started building the frame of the walls for the tower. With the frame in place, walls for the tower. With the frame in place, we carefully used a pencil to mark the place we carefully used a pencil to mark the place where to cut the wood for the horizontal where to cut the wood for the horizontal bars.bars.

When we had all of our pieces cut out we When we had all of our pieces cut out we placed and fitted them together and placed and fitted them together and pinned them down onto a piece of wax pinned them down onto a piece of wax paper. After that, we used green wood paper. After that, we used green wood glue to glue the balsa wood pieces in glue to glue the balsa wood pieces in place. Once they were dried and became a place. Once they were dried and became a wall, we glued the walls together as a wall, we glued the walls together as a tower.tower.

Putting it together was a Putting it together was a team effortteam effort

While some of us built the tower, another While some of us built the tower, another person worked on the logbook, which is a person worked on the logbook, which is a record of what we did each day. Other record of what we did each day. Other people worked on the skit/ presentation people worked on the skit/ presentation which could only be 90 seconds long. which could only be 90 seconds long. Towards the end, one or two people Towards the end, one or two people worked on the presentation board. The worked on the presentation board. The whole experience got everyone involved whole experience got everyone involved and excited. and excited.

The Process of The Process of InvengineeringInvengineering

Presentation BoardPresentation Board

Sample Log Book PageSample Log Book Page

The electronic log book documented our daily progress.

The ExpoThe Expo

At the multi-town expo we presented our At the multi-town expo we presented our towers and then tested them. The testing towers and then tested them. The testing process started with them making sure the process started with them making sure the height and width met the requirement. Then height and width met the requirement. Then they used a machine to put pressure on the they used a machine to put pressure on the tower. Whichever tower was the most tower. Whichever tower was the most efficient was the the winner.efficient was the the winner.

Efficiency = Efficiency = Force or Load (Force or Load (Applied force on Applied force on tester)tester)

Weight or Mass (weight on scaleWeight or Mass (weight on scale))

Weigh InWeigh In

Competing Towers-Day 1Competing Towers-Day 1

There were a total of 18 teams over a two day period. These are towers from day 1.

These are our towers.These are our towers.

PresentationsPresentations

It was fun to watch all the unique and It was fun to watch all the unique and creative presentations by the different creative presentations by the different teams. After all our hard work writing teams. After all our hard work writing our scripts, practicing them, and timing our scripts, practicing them, and timing them to make sure they were not over 90 them to make sure they were not over 90 seconds, it was time to present in front of seconds, it was time to present in front of all the other students.all the other students.

90 second presentation- 90 second presentation- Roberge Roberge TeamTeam

We came up with a skit where three of us were good elves, three of use were evil elves and there was a narrator. The evil elves had to be stopped from destroying towers.

90 second presentation- 90 second presentation- Woodside Woodside Team #1Team #1

Our theme was party animals and our team was the Boreseals. We got that name by combining our favorite animals: the beaver, the gorilla, and the weasel.

90 second presentation- 90 second presentation- Woodside Woodside Team #2Team #2

This presentation was a TV news show with two of us interviewing the other two who were the building designers.

Based upon the tower’s efficiency they Based upon the tower’s efficiency they were categorized into three groups. The were categorized into three groups. The groups in order from lowest to highest groups in order from lowest to highest were bronze, silver, and gold. All of the were bronze, silver, and gold. All of the Woodside S.A.G.E. 5Woodside S.A.G.E. 5thth grade students grade students placed in the silver category while the placed in the silver category while the Roberge 5Roberge 5thth grade S.A.G.E. students grade S.A.G.E. students placed in the gold group. Everyone placed in the gold group. Everyone received a certificate in recognition of received a certificate in recognition of their achievementtheir achievement..

Testing the tower’s Testing the tower’s efficiencyefficiency

Our presentation boardsOur presentation boards

Roberge students used Roberge students used Adobe PhotoshopAdobe Photoshop

Structural Analysis Structural Analysis PredictionsPredictions

After viewing all the structures and After viewing all the structures and listening to the presentations we listening to the presentations we completed an analysis sheet predicting completed an analysis sheet predicting into what category our tower would fall, into what category our tower would fall, which design was our favorite and why, which design was our favorite and why, and what similarities and differences we and what similarities and differences we noticed among all the towers.noticed among all the towers.

Student ReflectionsStudent Reflections After participating in the Invengineering Expo After participating in the Invengineering Expo

Challenge students completed evaluation Challenge students completed evaluation forms. Here are some of their comments:forms. Here are some of their comments:

I learned that being put into a group you have I learned that being put into a group you have to really compromise with your team and to really compromise with your team and make the most out of the supplies you have. make the most out of the supplies you have. (Emma)(Emma)

I noticed that cooperation and teamwork I noticed that cooperation and teamwork really count. (Christine)really count. (Christine)

  I learned that triangles are the strongest I learned that triangles are the strongest shapes. (Tyler)shapes. (Tyler)

I learned that it was a lot harder than I I learned that it was a lot harder than I thought. (Cole)thought. (Cole)

You have to learn to work with your team You have to learn to work with your team because everyone has different ideas. because everyone has different ideas. (Lauren)(Lauren)

It takes hard work and lots of time to build a It takes hard work and lots of time to build a tower. Sometimes less weight is better. (Jack)tower. Sometimes less weight is better. (Jack)

I observed that everyone’s towers and I observed that everyone’s towers and presentations were different in a good way. presentations were different in a good way. (Chelsea)(Chelsea)

Responding to a question about their Responding to a question about their preparation: preparation:

We had problems here and there but we We had problems here and there but we solved all of it together. (Jesse) solved all of it together. (Jesse) 

Preparing was fun because we learned all Preparing was fun because we learned all about towers and learned great facts that no about towers and learned great facts that no one knew before. (Rachel)one knew before. (Rachel)

It was fun building and preparing as a team. It was fun building and preparing as a team. (Justin)(Justin)

Commenting about sportsmanship and peer support:Commenting about sportsmanship and peer support: Everybody was a good sport. (Matt)Everybody was a good sport. (Matt) Everyone worked together well and no one was Everyone worked together well and no one was

fighting. (Nicole)fighting. (Nicole)Responding to a question about how the individual Responding to a question about how the individual

was important to the team:was important to the team: I came up with the tower design and the script. I came up with the tower design and the script.

(Holly)(Holly) I helped by always sharing my opinions in group I helped by always sharing my opinions in group

discussions, the presentation board, the log book discussions, the presentation board, the log book and deciding on photos. (Rima)and deciding on photos. (Rima)

Commenting about the presentations:Commenting about the presentations: Some people were quiet and nervous but everyone Some people were quiet and nervous but everyone

did a good job. (Seana)did a good job. (Seana) I felt a lot of pressure watching the towers being I felt a lot of pressure watching the towers being

tested. (Justin)tested. (Justin)

A Woodside student said: After A Woodside student said: After the expo, we realized that we the expo, we realized that we could have improved our towers could have improved our towers to get into the gold category. For to get into the gold category. For one thing, we could have made one thing, we could have made the tower more level so it could the tower more level so it could hold an even balance of weight on hold an even balance of weight on all sides and not crumble on one all sides and not crumble on one side. side.

The View After the Expo

Newspaper coverage:Newspaper coverage:

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Students wrote stories about their experience which were published in the newspaper along with photos

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It seemed like everyone liked the multi-town It seemed like everyone liked the multi-town expo. We all met someone new and made a expo. We all met someone new and made a few more friends. Overall, this was an few more friends. Overall, this was an experience everyone enjoyed. Each tower was experience everyone enjoyed. Each tower was different, but all used triangles to make them different, but all used triangles to make them strong. The towers were tested and eventually strong. The towers were tested and eventually destroyed; watching each tower and waiting destroyed; watching each tower and waiting for them to collapse was exciting . The for them to collapse was exciting . The different groups all did a 90 second different groups all did a 90 second presentation, which fortunately, turned out presentation, which fortunately, turned out great! This experience was enjoyable for all, great! This experience was enjoyable for all, and an awesome learning experience. and an awesome learning experience.