After our four day weekend we returned to find that both of our bridges had completely dried so it was only a matter of choosing which bridge we would like to use for the bridge test. Our team chose to go with the bridge that was our first idea. It was a little disapointing because as soon as we put the water to test how much it holds it broke. All of our hard work.
Today we worked on a new Wednesday challenge which had us be put in new groups so that we could all work together to solve and write a solution and the problem was to create a device that could tell whether or not there was a cat or a dog in said box without harming the animal in any shape, way or fashion. The group that I was assigned was with Aren, Jaden, and Carlos. I was hoping to be assigned with other students in today's Wednesday challenge. Dog and Cat Wednesday Challenge Form
Coming back from easy day Mr.Miller informed us all that he was going to take some time out of his weekend to grade our websites. We are going to be graded on three components. 1)Content = 60% of grade. 2)Style = 20% of grade. 3)Mechanics = 20% of grade. I started to worry because I needed to update my website.
As it began to continue every friday of each week Mr.Wilton came to visit us but mainly to look over the work in process of our JPL as they have put the rules into the creation of their projects. An idea I thought that was the most interesting out of all was the Kevin Arm because it combined gravity and the centripetal force to keep the water and fish in it's desired location until dumped into said funnel leading to the receiver. It seemed a little unorganized but I thought it was a great idea.
This week we began learning how to use sketchup by creating our own cities out of rectangular blocks lowering and raising them by using the push and pull tool on sketch up, according to either make the buildings longer by width or by vertical height and also being able to change the blocks color and material. I started my town by laying out a layout of the city with just rectangles then I had used the push and pull tool to block at my will to match the image of it in my head and at the end add color to each of separate buildings.
Tuesday was the same as yesterday except today we learned how to input measurements for a desired shape or object to smooth out the long and extremely process of getting the exact measurement on said shape or object. We all grabbed a jenga block and ruler to measure each of the sides of our jenga block then input the measurements into google sketch up and then input more measurements that belong to two different blocks so we could get more practice with the measurement system. I had some trouble with the measurements but then Dr. neato had helped and I was able to do it.
Wednesday was a day for another Wednesday challenge day once again split us up into several groups that again excluded my friend and I from one another most of the people in my group I didnt know who they were and I had forgotten there names. the challenge of the day was to measure then cut a piece of wood to exactly two inches and in our approach we cut really fast to be as precise as possible but cut too short.
Today we continued our work on the wednesday challenge with a new block but took a completely different approach to better our final product. So the second time we cut slowly and ahead of the two inch line then sanded a lot to get the edges down and in doing so we got really close to an inch. Today my group and the whole class learned three components of work; consistency, precision, and teamwork.
That Friday we were given a presentation on the "veterans" prototypes lead by each of the tree team lead builders who presented their ideas and hopes along with a time frame for the upcoming weeks leading up to the competition at JPL where they will be accompanied by Mr.Wilton. Though we were unable to view see the prototypes we were given a representation of them in Google Sketchup. Below are some videos of jpl showing us what they had.
To start of the week off, Dr.Neat took the veterans to the shop area and Mr.Miller taught how to access the safety couse. At the beginning I was having trouble acessing the safety course but then it got easier and I was able to acess it.
The next day we were instructed to measure three pieces of neatly cut wood blocks also known as jenga blocks. After measuring the jenga blocks we were told to then create a structure with the three blocks on google sketch up.
Wednesday which is our Wednesday challenge day started off with the class being split in half into teams. Our challenge was to transport a marble from one side to another with half a piece of tubing with everyone holding a piece at some time during the challenge.
The next day we were again separated but from rookies to "veterans" so that they could work on their JPL project. For us we were able to update our websites while Alex S. taught us how to add a youtube video which is a few entries above.
On Friday we were joined by Mr.Wilton who first watched with the class as the "veterans" presented their inventions. Mr.Wilton then started to talk with Dr.Neato and talk to jpl so that they can improve their inventions.
When we returned to school on Monday we reviewed our grades for the quarter and showed us how he graded our websites with the guidance of the rubric. I received a bad grade because my website was not updated enough and I didnt include some of the things that were required to be put in.
The next day we began with watching a video about the SpaceX explosion with a scientific professor guiding us through the entire video attempting to give us some personal insight into the sudden failure of the rocket.
Today was our next wednesday challenge which included the class being placed into a group of four, my group was Will, Nicolas, Derek and me. Our challenge this week was create a arch bridge that was larger than the material used to build it in a ratio. Here are the rules Arch Bridge Competition Rules
Thursday was an ok day. We had discussed our ideas about what to do for the bridge. We had many ideas but to out disapiontment none of them would actually work. It took us a while to come up with ideas but we then decided to bring in supplies tomorrow.
Friday was not much of an interesting day. All we did was hear what jpl had progressed in over the week. Mr. wilton had again discussed his ideas for the jpl group and had shared how they could make it better.