SHPE Foundation
2013 Noche de Ciencias
Activity Training
TeachEngineering Activities:
*Better by Design
*Newspaper Tower
TeachEngineering Digital Library:
teachengineering.org
Carleigh Samson
TeachEngineering Editor
University of Colorado Boulder
SHPE Foundation
2013 Noche de Ciencias
Hands-On Activity Training
TeachEngineering Digital Library
http://www.teachengineering.org
• The TeachEngineering digital library provides free,
teacher-tested, standards-based engineering
content for K-12 teachers to use in science and
math classrooms.
• Engineering lessons connect real-world experiences
with curricular content already taught in K-12
classrooms.
• Mapped to educational content standards,
TeachEngineering's comprehensive curricula are
hands-on, inexpensive, and relevant to children's
daily lives.
SHPE Foundation
2013 Noche de Ciencias
Hands-On Activity Training
General Advice
• Be prepared! Do each activity beforehand
• Make sure all materials are available
• Keep students on task
• Follow the time frame
• Be flexible
• Have Fun!!
SHPE Foundation
2013 Noche de Ciencias
Hands-On Activity Training
Activity: Better by Design
http://goo.gl/8kZdxA
• Paper model glider (airplane) activity
• Engineering focus:
o Engineering Analysis: test, redesign, test, redesign, etc.
o Change one variable at a time
o Analyze the cause and effect relationship – what is the result of each
change?
• Learning objectives:
o Create a paper model glider
o Predict how changes will affect the glider’s flight
o Use tools to measure the length of the glider’s flight
http://www.nasa.gov/topics/aeronautics/features/fut
ure_airplanes.html
SHPE Foundation
2013 Noche de Ciencias
Hands-On Activity Training
Activity: Better by Design
• Vocabulary:
o These terms are based on the design activity and should be
introduced to students:
• Aerospace Engineer
• Engineering Design Process
• Data Collection
• Engineering Analysis/ Data Analysis
o These terms are based on the glider and are used in the “An
Interesting Paper Glider Handout”. Students should know which
part of the plane they refer to:
• Aileron
• Rudders
• Elevators
SHPE Foundation
2013 Noche de Ciencias
Hands-On Activity Training
Activity: Better by Design
• Suggested time: 50 minutes
• Suggested group size: 3 students/group
• Materials:
o Each group needs:
• 1 sheet of 8.5 x 11-inch card stock paper
• Scissors
• 2 large paperclips
• Pencil
• Ruler and/or yardstick or meter stick
• An Interesting Paper Glider Handout
• Plane Tactics Worksheet (activity extension)
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/gjt/?n=aviation_new
SHPE Foundation
2013 Noche de Ciencias
Hands-On Activity Training
Activity: Better by Design
SHPE Foundation
2013 Noche de Ciencias
Hands-On Activity Training
Activity: Better by Design
• Procedure Overview:
o Introduce the model glider, discuss inherent differences in each
group’s glider
o Students build their model glider, following instructions
o Each group tests their glider, performing three trials and
measuring length each time. Students calculate the average
length.
o Students record the distance from each trial and the average
length in a table (shown on next slide)
SHPE Foundation
2013 Noche de Ciencias
Hands-On Activity Training
Activity: Better by Design
SHPE Foundation
2013 Noche de Ciencias
Hands-On Activity Training
Activity: Better by Design
• Procedure Overview (continued):
o Groups brainstorm changes and choose 3 to test. Students predict how each
change will affect the glider’s flight.
o Students make the first change to the glider, and test as before with three
trials. They record their data and the average distance in the table. Then
they repeat for the other two changes.
o Once finished, ask students the following questions:
• Which change made your glider travel the furthest? Why do you think
this was the case?
• Which change made your glider travel the least distance? Why do you
think this was the case?
o Make sure to end with a discussion with all students about what they learned,
and how this engineering analysis is so important in real world engineering
design!
SHPE Foundation
2013 Noche de Ciencias
Hands-On Activity Training
Activity: Better by Design
• Teaching tips:
o Model for students how to measure the glider’s distance and how to find an
average length.
o Remind students that ideas for changing the glider are provided on the “An
Interesting Paper Glider Handout”. All changes must be reversible.
o Circulate from group to group throughout the activity, providing help and
keeping students on task
o Ask students questions during the activity to keep them thinking, for example:
• Why did you decide on this change?
• How do you think it will affect the glider’s flight?
• What was the result of your last change? How did it affect the glider’s
flight?
• Do you think engineers that design airplanes go through a testing process?
Why?
SHPE Foundation
2013 Noche de Ciencias
Hands-On Activity Training
Activity: Better by Design
• Questions??
SHPE Foundation
2013 Noche de Ciencias
Hands-On Activity Training
Activity: Newspaper Tower
http://goo.gl/8kZdxA
• Activity: Building newspaper towers
with limited supplies
• Engineering focus:
o Engineering Design Process: Design, Build, Test,
Redesign, etc.
o Working with engineering constraints and objectives
• Learning objectives:
o Design and construct a newspaper tower with limited
supplies
o Test how the tower withstands “lateral wind”
o Explain certain designs were successful (and why
others were not)
http://www.netl.doe.gov/publications/proceedings
/10/doe-epa/Roy.pdf
SHPE Foundation
2013 Noche de Ciencias
Hands-On Activity Training
Activity: Newspaper Tower
• Vocabulary: Terms and definitions should be introduced to
students at the start of the activity, and reiterated through the
design, construction, testing and evaluation phases.
Terms:
Definitions:
Civil Engineer
Civil engineers design and construct non-moving structures such as roads, sewers, towers,
buildings, and bridges.
Engineering
Design Process
A series of steps used by engineers to guide them as they solve problems. The steps include:
Understand the Need, Brainstorm, Select the Best Design, Build, Test, Evaluate Results,
Redesign, Retest, etc. An engineer might go through the steps many times before find a
successful solution to the problem.
Buckling
When a column fails by bending at some point in the height of the column, usually towards
the midpoint caused by a vertical force.
Lateral force
A force that impacts a structure horizontally (i.e. wind and earthquakes).
Deflection
The amount a structure bends or moves from its "at rest" position.
SHPE Foundation
2013 Noche de Ciencias
Hands-On Activity Training
Activity: Newspaper Tower
• Suggested time: 50 minutes
• Suggested group size: 3 students/group
• Materials:
o Each group needs:
• 2 x 3 full sheets of newspaper
• 2 x 12 in (30 cm) clear tape (such as Scotch®
tape)
• Scissors
• Yardstick or meter stick
SHPE Foundation
2013 Noche de Ciencias
Hands-On Activity Training
Activity: Newspaper Tower
• Procedure Overview:
o Introduce the design competition – to build a tower out of
newspaper and limited supplies that must stand on its own and
withstand “lateral wind”
o Relate to real world engineering – financial constraints,
environmental factors, time constraints.
o Have students use real skyscrapers as inspiration for the design!
http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/htmls/line3225.htm
http://earthshots.usgs.gov/earthshots/node/49
http://www.lbl.gov/LBL-Programs/global_solutions/
SHPE Foundation
2013 Noche de Ciencias
Hands-On Activity Training
Activity: Newspaper Tower
• Procedure Overview (continued):
o Allow students 20 minutes to experiment with materials and different
designs
o Give students a new set of newspapers and tape, and allow them 25
minutes to construct their final design
o Test the towers: if the tower stands on its own, measure its height. Blow
on the tower forcefully. A successful tower should stand at its original
height. The tallest successful tower is the winning tower!
o Note: If recognition will be given for the winning designs, you should
create a scoring system (for example: a certain amount of points based
on height and withstanding the wind)
o Finish with a discussion about which designs worked and why. If
possible, relate student designs to design elements seen in architecture.
SHPE Foundation
2013 Noche de Ciencias
Hands-On Activity Training
Activity: Newspaper Tower
• Teaching Tips:
o During the first 20 minutes of design time, encourage students to be:
• creative!
• mindful of what is working and what isn’t working
• resourceful with their materials
o Circulate the room throughout the activity to keep students on task and
answer any questions that may arise
o Encourage students!
• Motivate students and praise their successes, as well as the not-sosuccessful attempts
• Remember that while some students may be very motivated by
competition, other may not. Encouragement and acknowledgement is
always helpful!
SHPE Foundation
2013 Noche de Ciencias
Hands-On Activity Training
Activity Takeaways
• Teambuilding skills
o Making decisions, sharing tasks and materials
• Engineering skills
o Engineering Design Process: design, build, test, evaluate, redesign, etc.
o Engineering Analysis: making predictions, taking measurements, making
calculations, interpreting results
• Math/analysis skills
o Finding averages
o Relating numeric results with changes in design
• Encouragement to be creative
o Both activities encourage creativity in the design
process
• Motivation through having fun
o Introduce activities as fun learning experiences!
http://www.buckeyeaz.gov/index.aspx?nid=163
SHPE Foundation
2013 Noche de Ciencias
Hands-On Activity Training
TeachEngineering Contact Information
•
TeachEngineering: http://www.teachengineering.org/
o over 1,200 standards-based engineering lessons and activities
o Be a Reviewer! http://www.teachengineering.org/want_to_review.php
•
Carleigh Samson, TeachEngineering Editor
o carleigh.samson@colorado.edu
o 303.492.6950
Questions?
http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Stone_Lakes/FAQ.html/
Student Activity: STEM Panel
Goals of STEM Panel
• Demonstrate to students that pursuing a STEM field
is an achievable goal
• Provide insight into STEM education paths and
careers
• Give students examples of an average day in one of
these fields
• Provide students the opportunity to ask
professionals and university students questions in
personal setting
• Inspire them!
Panel Members
• 3 -5 speakers
• Suggested speakers from different STEM Fields:

Experienced STEM professional

Recent STEM graduate

Students majoring in a STEM field
Logistics for STEM Panel
Prior to the event
• Invite and collect the panelists’ contact information
• Communicate with panelists time, location and
topics
• Give panelists content and questions in advance
• Recruit Noche de Ciencias volunteer to serve as
moderator
Logistics for STEM Panel
During the event
• Describe STEM Panel format to attendees
 Each panelist will speak for X minutes
 Questions will be taken after each speaker or
after all panelists have spoken
 Panelists will be here after for 1-on-1 questions
following the panel
• Take pictures of students and panelists
Logistics for STEM Panel
Role of the Panel Moderator
 Encourage students to ask questions
 Acknowledge and thank students for their
questions
 Prepare and ask questions if no questions are
being asked
 Thank panelists for their time and for supporting
the Noche de Ciencias
Follow up
After the event
• Send thank you cards to each panelist
• If starting a SHPE Jr. Chapter(s), keep panelists
updated on progress of chapter
These updates will keep panelist(s) involved
future SHPE events
Recruitment Ideas for Panelists
• Reach out to your fellow and surrounding SHPE
Chapter members
• Co-workers
• Mentors
• Professors
• Advisors
• Friends and acquaintances in different fields
• Local companies
Questions?
Contact Us
SHPE Foundation
1444 Duke St.
Alexandria, VA 22314
Stacie Freasier
Program Manager
Stacie.Freasier@shpe.org
703-373-7930 ext. 204
Danielle Carneiro
Program Coordinator
Danielle.Carneiro@shpe.org
703-373-7930 ext. 202
Ariadna Mahon-Santos
Program Coordinator
Ariadna.Mahon-Santos@shpe.org
703-373-7930 ext. 203
Reminders
Tomorrow, March 26th from 3PM EST – 4 PM EST
Parent Workshop Training: Understanding College
Options & Financial Aid