Subject
Objective
Description/What to do in the classroom
Things to consider/science behind it
Number of TryScience.org features used
Titles of TryScience.org features
Materials Used
Results of student feedback and teacher assessment of activity
Attachments

Subject
SCIENCE (MIDDLE SCHOOL- 6TH GRADE) AVERAGE AND ENRICHED STUDENTS

Objective
Students will design a tool/machine using at least one simple machine. It should be designed to do work to make a task easier; it can solve a problem for the student or someone else.

Science Standards: (List as applicable)
Science and inquiry; Physical Science (motions and forces, transfer of energy); Science and technology (abilities of technological design); Personal and social perspectives (science and technology in society); History and nature of science (science as a human endeavor; history of science); UPC 2, 3, 4 (evidence, models and explanation; change, constancy, and measurement; and evolution and equilibrium)

Description/What to do in the classroom
·Define basics of motion, forces, and work ·Identify simple machines and work performed by each ·Choose 3 activities from Tryscience.org with research team ·Keep journal of activities and daily activities (to include brainstorming) ·Design a tool/machine using/identifying 1 simple machine (each student to design one) ·Give oral presentation of invention
During the study of Interactions in the Physical World unit, the students will have defined (for understanding) the basics of motion, forces, and work. After studying the final chapter, Work and Simple Machines, the students will design a tool/machine that will solve a problem in their lives or for others. One simple machine must be included/identified. The students will research aspects of work and machines using library, Internet, etc. The students may present their invention in the following manner: blueprint design (sketch/drawing by hand or computer graphic w/program such as Paint or Kidpix), model (prototype of actual tool/machine; scale model okay), document describing use of and description of tool/machine. The choices of presentation of the invention will allow students to choose a method that suits their needs/interest/ability. The students will make an oral presentation of their invention before the class during the Invention Convention (day to conclude unit of study culminating with exhibition of projects and celebration). The students will have a 2-week work window; work on the model itself will be done at home. Help from parents/others is encouraged (this is not a contest); it is a take-home-science style project. Research and development of project will be done in the classroom and in the computer lab. Students will maintain a journal; this portion of project includes writing skills to be assessed by the language arts teacher.

Things to consider/science behind it
What simple machines are needed to do a task? Which machines do the most efficient job? What gadget will do work to make a particular task easier?

Curriculum topics
Work and simple machines- Physical science

Integration of TryScience.org features
The students will be required to try 3 of the tryscience.org activities. They may preview all; but they must complete 3 activities (recording information in journal). The experiments chosen will perhaps give students ideas for an invention and for ways to test the function of their apparatus.

Number of TryScience.org features used
6-10

Titles of TryScience.org features
Experiments: Aluminum Boat; A-Mazing Robot; Let It Roll; Up and Over; Wingin It; Build and Test a Paper Bridge; Build a Treetop Walkway; Gravity in Action; Speed, Eggs, and Slam.

Field trip: Engineer it at OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry)

Materials Used
Computer with Internet access
Tryscience.org website
Journal
Information/rubric sheet
Choice of materials for invention as per each student's design
Computer software: Kidpix, Paint, Microsoft Word, Power Point

Results of student feedback and teacher assessment of activity
Last year, the students did the project without the TryScience.org website. The students created the most interesting gadgets with surprising reasons for doing so. By adding the website feature and journal writing the project becomes more dynamic. Using the tryscience.org website, the students have virtual and hands-on experience with different facets of work and machines.

Last year, the project brought together a student and her grandfather. She did not want to do anything with him on the computer or in his work shed. He heard about her project and began asking her leading questions; this lured her to the computer to design her gadget. After he had her attention and they successfully put her ideas on paper, he invited her to his workbench. Again, he asked her leading questions that led the creation of a working prototype: a drinking glass cleaning gadget (2 sponges on a moving apparatus that wiped the inside and outside of a glass at the same time). I do not know who was more exited about the project, my student or her grandfather!

	ric.doc(Microsoft Word, 73 kb)
	sisic.doc(Microsoft Word, 96 kb)