Math Description

In ‘Bounce the Light’ students will learn engineering skills as they work in teams to use a series of mirrors and a laser to hit a target. This teaches valuable skills in design, planning, and teamwork.

In this activity students will be asked to use limited supplies to design and build the tallest tower that can support weight. Students will learn about the different forces that cause the building to fall, and how to counteract them.

In this activity each group will be made up of a “Leader” and a “Follower.” The Leaders will examine a paper airplane and write a set of directions for constructing it. The Followers will follow the written instructions to reconstruct the object. This activity will promote the understanding that instructions for the design of a model must be clear and flawless in order for the outcome to represent the original design. Students will understand that tests are used to identify flaws and areas of difficulties in engineering designs

During ‘Gondola Ride,’ the students will learn about the principles of physics and engineering that are used in zip lines and how the speed of an object is related to its energy. Students will also better understand the responsibilities that engineers have in creating safe and enjoyable zip lines for the riders. Also, for math review, they will actually see how long 6 meters is and how high 2 meters is as well.

In this activity, students will combine science and art. Teams will use straws and paper clips to make a mobile, thus learning about the physics of fulcrums, levers, and centers of inertia and crucial engineering skills, all while having the freedom to add an artistic touch to their teams mobile.

In this activity, teams of students will learn about aerodynamics and engineering as they, in teams, build paper helicopters. Then they will time their helicopters, whoever’s stays in the air the longest wins!

In this activity, students will use basic supplies to create a hovercraft. This activity teaches students valuable lessons in engineering, physics, and teamwork. Once built the students will race their hovercraft against one another.

In this physics activity, students will design and then build a bridge out of straws and tape. This activity allows them to explore the forces of compression and tension that must be balanced in order for bridges to stand and carry traffic. 

‘Float a Boat’  is an activity in physics. Students will design, build and test a foil boat. This activity allows exploration of the relationship of force, density, and mass in relationship to boats. The activity will allow students to work together to agree on a barge design that will not only float but also hold as much cargo as possible without sinking. 

In ‘Half Hour Tower,’ students are given 30 minutes, limited supplies, and a team to build a simple structure and see how long it stands. Students will learn about architecture design as well have an opportunity to show creativity.

During this activity, students will plan and design a catapult and then conduct an investigation by testing their catapult using different sizes of marshmallows, thus learning skills in physics, engineering, and the scientific method.

In this physics activity, teams will have 20 minutes to design and construct a parachute that will slow the descent of a golf ball as much as possible when dropped from a pre-determined height.

In ‘Ramp Race’ Students will learn about gravity, friction, and the factors that affect an object’s speed as it slides down a ramp. Students will then attempt to coat their ramp in whatever they can find that they believe will slow their racer the most, last car to the bottom wins.