In today's lesson, we are going to explore the topic of gravity and orbits with the students. To explain the ideas better, we will use some models to explain the principles behind gravity and orbits. The lesson is divided into several parts in general: 1. Solar Orbits Demonstration: In this part, we are going to display the orbits of solar systems to the students and ask them to observe the characteristics of the orbits and think of the reason why the orbits are in such shapes; 2. Orbits Simulation: In this part, we are going to construct a model of how planets are orbiting around stars. After constructing such model, we are going to let the students to simulate the orbits; 3. Meteoroids and Craters They Make: In the last part, we are going to discuss and demonstrates how powerful meteoroids are.
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In today's lesson, we are going to introduce the students to the idea of vacuum. The key is to let the students observe how different objects behave and why they behave in such way under vacuum environments. The lesson is divided into two major parts in general: 1. Introduction: In this part, we are going to discuss various questions about vacuum with the students to give them some sense of what is vacuum and where is the vacuum formed. 2. Experiments: In this part, we will first build a vacuum chamber with the students and start experiments with various objects in the vacuum space.
In today's lesson, we are going to explore the topic of exploring alien landscapes with the students. In modern extraterrestrial expeditions, we use all sorts of sensors and cameras to explore the unknow alien landscapes. In this lesson, we are going to simulate this process of receiving datas from sensors and cameras which we will use to reconstruct the landscapes. This lesson is divided into two major parts: 1. Landscapes constructions: In this part, we are going to use clays and other materials to construct a landscape that will be explored in the next part. 2. Exploring: In this part, we will have the students form pairs. One of them will be in charge of the narrative of the landscapes encountered and the other one will try to reconstruct it on paper.
In this lesson, we are going to walk through how to build an extraterrestrial habitat, more specifically, Mars Habitat. To explore the topic thoroughly, we will divide the lesson into two major parts: 1. Discussion: In this part, we will have a discussion over the basic needs for human to survive in the universe and the requirements of a successful extraterrestrial habitat; 2. Build a Model Habitat: In this part, we will help the students to build a model mars habitat.
In today's lesson, we are going to introduce the students to the family of Mars Rovers - Spirit, Sojourner and Curiosity. After the introduction, we are going to help the student to design and build our own Mars Rovers. In the process of building the Rover, we are going to introduce the students to multiple characteristics of the Mars Rovers: 1. The duribility of the Mars Rovers' wheels - They have to be able to travel long distances under given amount of power and high traction; 2. The constraints on the weights of Mars Rovers;
In today's lesson, we are going to introduce the students to the idea of Moon Phase. To explore the topic throuphly, we are going to divide the lesoon into four parts: 1. Introductory discussion: in this part, we are going to discuss the different shapes of moon with the students as a head start; 2. Lunar Phases: in this part, we will introduce the students with the idea of lunar phases and simulate the phases; 3. Eclipses: in this part, we will introduce the idea of eclipses to the students. The goal here is to teach them how the eclipses are formed; 3. Viewing Eclipses: in this part, we are going to simulate how eclipses are formed and how you can see them.
In this lesson, we are going to introduce the student to the idea of scale of the universe we are living in. There are four take home points that we want to cover: 1. Models can help up compare characteristics of planets; 2. Planets have measurable properties, such as size, mass, composition etc. 3. Density cannot be determined by its size alone; 4. Things in the Solar System (and Universe) are really far apart. To explore the topic, we will divide the lesson into four parts: 1. Warm-up discussions: in this part, we will first have a Scavenger Hunt and some warm-up questions discussed; 2. Pocket Solar System: In this part, we will build our own model of the solar system and have a discussion over it; 3. Composistion: In this part, we will discuss what the colors mean on a map, then mark the planets with colors indicating what its made of; 4. Size/Density Demo: In this part, we will discuss the relation between sizes and Densities.
This week, we start another 3 week lesson series - building a judo bot. In this lesson series, we are going to help the students to build their own judo bot. Judo bot utilize the hydraulic system we are going to construct as power to drive the arms of it. We will build the robot craft cubes and craft sticks as the skeleton. The hydraulic system will be constructed with syringes. There will be six steps to build up the whole Judo Bot. 1. Building the base. The base are restricted up to a 10 inch square. 2. Building the stand. 3. Building the arm and the wedge. 4. Assembling the robot. 5. Constructing the Hydraulic systems. 6. Attaching the pistons. We will finish step 1, 2 in the first week. Second week will be aiming at finishing step 3 and 4 along with trouble shooting the robot itself. The last week will finish the rest of the building work and take them to battle ground is time permitted.
This week students evaluated their popsicle stick bridges built last week and discussed improvements to their design. Each group was given a new set of popsicle sticks and presented with the same design requirements as last week. This week continues to teach important tenets of the engineering design process, illustrating the cycle of iterating design and evaluation.
For Lesson plan, please refer to the post of Week 1. Starting from this week we are going into a 3 weeks series of teaching the students how to build a bridge. There are some basic requirements for building our bridge: 1. The construction shall not use more than 50 popsicle sticks; 2. The bridge should span at least 12 inches; 3. The width of the bridge should allow a tennis ball to row over it easily; 4. There should be a stable flat surface on it allowing cookie sheets to lay on for testing purpose; 5. The bridge should be able to take as much weight as possible. In this week's lesson, we are going to initiate the building process. The key question to ask is: 1. Purpose of building a bridge; 2. Common features of a bridge; 3. Destructive events for a bridge and precautions accordingly. Next, we are going to distribute the materials to the students and start the design process. The students shall draw their design before the actual construction. After the design is completed, we will help the students to build their bridge and label them for next week's tests.
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