Mission To Mars....Egg Landers!

Farewell 2014-2015 School Year. It's been a great one!

Our Final 6th grade P.B.L. of the year was a Mission to Mars Project.
We learned about the potential for a mission to Mars, all about Mars, and built a Mars Lander that protects an egg from a very high drop (as if it were landing on Mars).

The Ventura Fire Department brought their 80 foot ladder to drop our Mission to Mars Egg Landers!
What an amazing event!

                                        

To see the view from the sky, check out the aerial video from the amazing Mr. Wulff and Mr. Hubert (follow the link): https://youtu.be/KxEsRlLrGIQ


To learn more about this project please email any of the 6th grade teachers at DATA including:
amanda.lynch@venturausd.org

Champions Build Air Powered Boats!

Today students built balloon air powered boats to see how far and fast it could travel.

Students were given a meter of tape, a balloon, a note card and a foot of string.

Next students built/ tested and modified.

The most challenging aspect of this project was getting the balloon to stay on the boat.
Most students were able to make their boat travel and glide more than five feet!

Our last step was writing a reflection of what we learned today using our new engineering academic vocabulary...

Well done Champions!

Champions Build Balloon Air Powered Zip Lines!

Today students built a zip line that was able to get a Lego dude down a zip line using air power (balloon).
Students were given a balloon, string, a paper clip, tape and a Lego Figure..


They were challenged with getting their Lego Figure across the zip line...

 then, for fun they made a mini zip line......

Students did an amazing job creating, testing and modifying.
Our last step of reflecting on what we built using our new academic vocabulary.

Well done Champions of Room A8!

Champions Build Balloon Lego Cars!

Today students made a lightweight hybrid Lego/ cardboard cars (using Lego Wheels) propelled by the release of air from a balloon that was attached to their "car".

First we did a V.T.S. activity studying the pictures below:

Next, we got our materials and began building. Many students needed to modify their cars to make sure the balloon was able to release the air and push the car without assistance.

The first challenge was for it to go across the students desk at least three feet. Once they were able to do that, they were invited to move on to the class "Race Track".  If they were able to get their car across the five foot track with balloon power, they were then invited to test outside on the "Champions Raceway". We had so much fun!

building....

 Testing and modifying....

and some bloopers...(this really was a fun day!)...

Our last step was reflect on what we did and what we learned today. Well done Champions!

Champions Build Marshmallow Towers!

Using just 50 toothpicks and 25 small marshallows, students were given two challenges:

1. How tall of a stucture could they build?
2. Could they build a structure with at least a three inch base that could support a standard box of Crayons?

Students were given 20 minutes to enginer their structures. They were able to build some very inpressive (and tall) sturctures. The highest was ten inches!

Most were able to build their stucture in a way to support a box of crayons.

Our last step was reflecting on what what we learned today in a short refelction essay.

Well done Champions!

Champions Build Extension Grabbers!

Today students were given two rulers, two feet of tape, two feet of string, 2 rubber bands, and a paper clip. The challenge was to engineer an extender that could pick up a few items from two feet away. The items were a pencil and a full box of crayons.

First we had a VTS discussion after looking at some images of "extension grabbers" and how they can be helpful in everyday life. Next, students were given the materials and time to engineer, test, and modify. Most students were able to meet the challenge. Once they were successful, they were encouraged to add another ruler for a further reach. One student was able to successfully reach from four feet away (4 rulers) with her extender.

Our last step was to reflect on what we learned in a short essay.
Well done Champions!

Champions Build Mini Elevators!

Today students engineered a one-foot tall elevator that could pull up to five small weights (washers). First we participated in a V.T.S. activity looking at various pulley systems.
Next we went over some key vocabulary such as "lift", "pulley system", "counter weight" and "cable".  We also watched a short video clip of the science behind the elevator:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2duEzrOS6M

Then the students were presented with the following design challenge:

• Your engineering challenge today is to build a one-foot tall Lego structure that has a pulley system that can elevate five small washer weights. Materials to use are a bag of Lego's, two feet of string, a paper clip and a ruler.

Students talked about their design ideas and did a short amount of research on their net-books before building. 

Then it was time to build, test and modify to reach "Success!"!

Most students were able to engineer a solid structure that could pull up the goal of five small weights. Our last step was writing a reflection of what they engineered, how it performed, and what they learned from this activity. 

Well done Champions!