Let the Testing Begin!

It's time to put our Mars Rovers to the test!  Hopefully all that hard work, glue gun burns and broken rubber bands will have led us to the point where we can feel proud to present our "self-propelled scientific transport vehicle."  But, how do we test it?


If you can remember back to the "Developing Ideas" phase, you might remember we looked over the design challenge requirements to being creating our Design Specification.  We crafted criteria we believed would help guide us through the process of designing a product or solution that would run successfully in this challenge.

Each of those criteria we chose to make our Design Specification should be testable in some way.  Will it roll a specific distance?  Lets run it through a trial!  Is it make of the right materials?  Let's have a classmate inspect it.  How should we test our rovers to make sure they meet our Design Specification?  That's where your "Evaluation the Solution" student worksheet comes in.  On the worksheet you'll have an opportunity to list out some potential ways you'll assess your rover to ensure it meets the criteria you chose.

Now that you have a list of ways you intend to put your rover through it's paces, lets get started by using the "Mars Rover - Evaluation Phase - Student and Peer Check-list" worksheet.  This document is designed to allow you to collect data and evidence from your trial runs that you can use later when you need to share your thoughts on just how successful it is.  You'll have a partner objectively fill out the check-list giving you feedback on how they feel the rover fares during each of your trials.

When we've collected the data, we'll interpret what it means to us.  We can decide how the evaluations from ourselves and our peers can give us a clear idea on how successful our rover is.

In the end, you'll have an opportunity to share with us what changes you think you would make to the aesthetics, structure or functionality of your rover to improve upon it.  Could your wheels be better attached, the chassis strengthened or the equipment better secured?

Congratulations on an amazing job!  You guys and girls make me proud with how creative and resourceful you are!  Your energy is great and I can't wait to see what you'll produce for our next unit!

Resources:
Evaluating the Solution - Task Specific Rubric
Evaluating the Solution - Student Worksheet Template
Mars Rover - Evaluation Phase - Student and Peer Check-list

Recipe for Success

I am amazed by all the innovative and interesting sketches i've been collecting from our 6th grade aerospace engineers.  Big wheels, small wheels, space ships, tacos and many more designs have come across my desk, labeled with features and measurements... ready to be built.

Let's take a moment and think about cake..  Imagine you were tasked with baking a cake for Mr. Connors birthday.  What ingredients would you need?... Flour, eggs, sugar?  What tools would you need?... a baking pan, spatula, mixing bowl?  But what about the things we sometimes forget... Wouldn't you also need an oven, a clean space to work, enough time to put it together and the skills and knowledge on how to actually bake?  And that doesn't even take into account having the right recipe!

The question is... Do you want Mr. Connors to have an EPIC Cake?... or an EPIC Cake FAIL?

Now let's transfer this scenario into your rover.  Before we can start to build, we need to construct our recipe... or our plan for how we will build the machine.  We also need to ensure we have the right materials and tools to build as well.

In this phase of the Design Cycle, we'll begin by constructing a logical plan which includes brainstorming all the materials, tools and resources we'll need.  We'll then plan out a task-list that includes step-by-step instructions for how we would build our rovers in the order that makes logical sense.  Just like someone could follow a recipe to make a cake, we should be able to follow your plan to produce your rover just as it is in your final design diagram.

Don't forget to follow your plan to bring your materials with you to our next class!  Can't wait to start building!

Resources:
Creating the Solution Task Specific Rubric
Creating the Solution Student Worksheet Template


Images:
Epic Cake Fail by Amy (mystoriesinrecipies)
Batman vs. Darth Vader by Liz Marek of Artisan Cake Company

Ideas Taking Shape and Form

Over the past few classes we've begun to ask questions that will lead us to better understand our design challenge.  We've collected information about simple machines, working prototypes and potential energy.  Now's the time to begin letting our ideas begin to take shape.

This week we've started putting into words our Design Specifications, those detailed and specific criteria our mars rovers need to meet in order for them to be successful.  What must our rovers do and what features or characteristics must they have for them to meet the challenge?  When we set these concepts down, they provide for us a road map with a goal we can use to guide us through the process of designing a few potential solutions.

As we continue this week, we'll begin to sketch out 2 dimensional drawings of our rover concepts.  We'll design vehicles that are built out of a chassis, wheel and axles and include some form of propulsion.  The more concepts we come up with, the more options we'll have to choose from before we begin to build.  Eventually, we'll pair down our ideas to a final concept with labeled features and annotated measurements.  Whichever concept best meets our specifications will become the solution we decide to build.

I look forward to seeing all the amazing and crazy ideas you come up with... tempered with the reality that each of these designs will be driven by the need to meet our specifications.

Good luck designers!

Resources:
Developing Ideas Task Specific Rubric
Developing Ideas Student Worksheet Template


Images:
Balloon Car by MML
kinetically fueled car by James Noonan

Future NASA Engineers!

Over the past two weeks our 6th graders have been busy learning about the design cycle and how it can be used to solve problems as they take part in a Mars Rover Design Challenge in class.  They were asked to design and build a "self-propelled transport vehicle" prototype that would successfully transport 125g at least 1m-3m safely and securely.  Their prototypes were to be designed and built using only recyclable or reusable every-day household items.  What they created was amazing!

Each student was responsible for coming up with their own design for the challenge.. and we had a great variety of designs be built and tested.  While not all the prototypes were successful in transporting the 125g weight the full distance, they were all very creative and thoughtful.

Next up, students completed the  6th and 7th boxes on their Design Challenge Packet that asks them to reflect on the success of their product and further challenges them to come up with some ideas on what they could have done or do to make it more successful.   Students have also been given the option to improve upon their design on their own time.  Those who successfully make their changes are welcome to bring in their prototypes for further testing before Wednesday.

 Please see the slideshow below or visit the gallery for some of the amazing images and action from this challenge.

 

The Cargo Arrived Safely!

This week our 6th graders have been busy learning about the atmospheric and topographical conditions on Mars as they take part in a Mars Rover Design Challenge in class.  They were asked to design and build a "self-propelled transport vehicle" prototype that would successfully transport 125g at least 1m safely and securely.  Their prototypes were to be designed and built using only recyclable or reusable every-day household items.  What they created was amazing!


Each student was responsible for coming up with their own design for the challenge.. and we had a great variety of designs be built and tested.  While not all the prototypes were successful in transporting the 125g weight the full distance, they were all very creative and thoughtful.

Next up, students will be completing the 6th and 7th boxes on their Design Challenge Packet that asks them to reflect on the success of their product and further challenges them to come up with some ideas on what they could have done or do to make it more successful.   Students have also been given the option to improve upon their design on their own time.  Those who successfully make their changes are welcome to bring in their prototypes for further testing next week.

 Please see the slideshow below or visit the gallery for some of the amazing images and action from this challenge.
 

Exploring Mars: A Design Challenge

This week we begin a design challenge to give you all some basic experience in solving problems through design.  Normally we would have weeks to go through the entire process of coming up with the most appropriate solution or product after much time spent researching, planning and building.  For this challenge, a quick start should get us all up and moving.

The Challenge is set and the Specifications have been posted.  In your handout, you've been tasked with completing the first 5 sections of your design challenge handout on your own before coming to our next class.  You should have a fairly clear idea of what you want your vehicle to look like and how it should function.

• Pay close attention to how you'll provide the propulsion (via stored potential energy transferred to kinetic energy) by connecting your rubber band to the wheels via the axle. (No motors or chemical reactions!)
• Also you'll need to ensure that your chassis connects to the axle in someway so that the kinetic energy that spins the wheels will also push/pull the chassis forward.
•  Think about what type of materials provide the best mix of strength, flexibility, grip, and rotation while still being lightweight.

Remember, we'll be providing some of the basic tools you'll need to construct your vehicle. (tape, scissors, glue gun) You're responsible for bringing what materials you've planned on using for your chassis, axles, and wheels.  You'll have about 45 mins of in-class time to follow your plan and build your rover.  So don't forget to collect those great "vehicle" parts from around the house.

For those of you interested in learning more about how the Mars Rover Curiosity was able to successfully land on the planet, you can check out the following video on Youtube:

Challenges of Getting to Mars: Curiosity's Seven Minutes of Terror