GRADE 7 TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION/ENGINEERING
It is expected at the beginning of class that each student will enter, get seated and prepare to listen. I divide the class into two times: listening time and work time. The listening time is where I expect the students to ask questions, generate discussion, review any homework and be presented with the information they will need to continue the design process and enter work time. This will generally consist of the first 5-10 minutes of class, depending on how quickly the class gets settled. During work time, students will get their folders, and may sit where ever and with whom ever they want, provided they are safe, respectful, responsible and working at an efficient pace.
One quarter will be spent in the Engineering Lab where students will be creating tetrahedral kites and foam tray hovercrafts. Students can elect to work with a partner. The other quarter will be spent in the Manufacturing Lab where a design activity (whirly birds) will be presented that utilizes problem solving skills and the application of Science, Math, tools and machines to solve given tasks.
All activities will address the state’s Science and Technology/Engineering standards and prepare the students for their Science and Technology/Engineering MCAS test at the end of grade 8. Each activity involves introduction, design, analysis, and evaluation, amongst other work. Grading will consist of a collection of points, with each assignment assessed a point value. A student’s grade is calculated by taking their total points earned and dividing that by the total points possible. Behavior, effort, respect and responsibility will be used as a bump, should a student’s grade be borderline.
Below you will find a basic table containing the lab activities I will attempt to complete during the next twenty (20) weeks, (semester) the approximate number of class periods needed for completion, and the applied concepts each will address. By the end of grade 8, each child will be well prepared to take the Science and Technology/Engineering M.C.A.S. exam.
Feel free to contact if you have any questions or concerns.
Ms. Oropallo
Mr. Blanchette
|
ACTIVITY |
APP. # OF CLASS PERIODS |
BASIC CONCEPTS COVERED |
|
Class intro/expectations and intro to Tech. Ed. |
1 |
Rules and expectations/Tech. defined |
|
Eng. design steps and the Universal systems method of problem solving |
1 |
Review the step method to problem solving, as well as the systems method to problem solving |
|
Tetrahedral kites |
13-15 |
Review of design steps method of problem solving/geometric shapes/area/volume/introduction to lift/procedure following |
|
Hovercraft |
8-10 |
Lift/drag/thrust/friction/gravity/motors/electricity/universal systems model of problem solving |
|
Whirly birds |
23-25 |
Bernoulli’s principle/thrust, lift, weight, drag, Law’s of motion, Company organization, Universal systems model |
E-mail = gblanchette@arlington.k12.ma.us Gary Blanchette
aoropallo@arlington.k12.ma.us Allison Oropallo