Hands-On Engineering

Authentic Learning Experiences That Engage Students in STEM (Grades 4-6)

Beth L. Andrews

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2021
• ISBN:
  9781000493276
• Edition: 2
• Topic: Pedagogía
• Subtopic: Educación general

Hands-On Engineering immerses students in the world of real-life engineers. Through engaging authentic learning experiences, students will create innovative solutions to relevant and timely design and engineering challenges while building STEM skills. This book is packed with activities that can be easily conducted in the classroom using everyday materials and includes everything teachers need to help students think analytically, assess new situations, and solve hands-on, real-world problems. From engaging in practical problem solving and collaboration to employing imagination and perseverance, students will not just learn about engineering—they will be engineers!Grades 4-6

CHALLENGES

DOI: 10.4324/9781003235453-2

CHALLENGE 1
THE GOOD OLD-FASHIONED PAPER AIRPLANE

DOI: 10.4324/9781003235453-3

Make an airplane that achieves the longest straight flight when released.

SUBJECTS AND SKILLS

• Aerodynamics
• Calculating averages
• Measurement

VOCABULARY

• Aerodynamics
• Aviation

PURPOSE

This activity will improve students' ability to:

• understand the fundamentals of aerodynamics,
• apply principles of aerodynamics to objects moving through air,
• apply distance-measurement skills,
• convert standard measurements, and
• calculate averages.

OBJECTIVES

Students will demonstrate:

• an understanding of aerodynamics by creating a paper airplane,
• the ability to measure to the nearest eighth of an inch, and
• the ability to calculate averages.

MATERIALS

• The Good Old-Fashioned Paper Airplane Activity Sheet (pp. 15-17)
• Extend the Learning With Aerodynamics: Project Ideas (p. 18)
• 8.5' x 11" paper (one sheet per student for individual activity and one sheet per team in group activity)
• Metersticks/yardsticks
• An area in which students can throw paper airplanes (e.g., gymnasium, field)

ACTIVITY PREPARATION

1. Gather materials and place them in two different areas in the room.
2. Bookmark online resources to be used in class:
   • ◦ "Newton's Laws of Motions," available at http://teachertech.rice.edu/Partici pants/louviere/Newton
   • ◦ "The Car and the Wall," available at https://www.physicsclassroom.com/m media./ newtlaws/cci.cfm
   • ◦ "How Aerodynamics Work," available at https://auto.howstuffvvorks.com/ fuel-efficiency/fuel-economy/aerodynamics.htm

ACTIVITY PROCEDURE

1. Ask students if they have ever wondered how a heavy object, like an airplane, can fly in the air. Introduce Sir Isaac Newton and his law of gravity. Visit online resources about Newton as a way to introduce his achievements and contributions (see Activity Preparation section).
2. Discuss how aerodynamics works by displacing air around an object. Visit "How Aerodynamics Work" for a more thorough explanation.
3. Distribute The Good Old-Fashioned Paper Airplane Activity Sheet.
4. After students have completed their individual airplanes, allow them to complete a test flight and then record their results.
5. Divide students into groups of two or three to complete the challenge and give each group a team number.
6. Allow the groups to settle and discuss their plans before beginning the challenge. Hold the challenge in whatever manner is easiest and most appropriate for your classroom.
7. After the competition, have students complete the activity sheet.
8. If you wish, assign one of the projects suggested in Extend the Learning With Aerodynamics: Project Ideas.

Name:_____________________________________ Date:____________________

THE GOOD OLD-FASHIONED PAPER AIRPLANE ACTIVITY SHEET

Goal

• Make an airplane that achieves the longest straight flight when released.

Materials

• 8.5 x 11" paper (one sheet per student for individual activity and one sheet per team in group activity)

Time to Create

• 12 minutes

Individual Activity

Read the following information, answer the questions, and follow the instructions.

What is aerodynamics? Use a dictionary to determine the relationship of the two Greek words that make up the word aerodynamics:

aerios, meaning__________________________________________________________________________________________,

and dynamis, meaning_____________________________________________________________________________________.

Aerodynamics is________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________.

Although humans have been interested in aerodynamics and aviation for thousands of years, flying in a "heavier-than-air" craft has only been possible in the last century Every airplane flight, bicycle ride, model rocket launch, kite expedition, automobile drive, and baseball pitch is designed around the basic concepts of aerodynamics.

Thinking about aerodynamics brings us to the task at hand. You will make your own paper airplane, following the instructions. If you know how to make a more efficient paper airplane, then include directions on the back of this sheet. You may follow your own design instructions after first building a paper airplane according to the guidelines. You can feel free to experiment and share your ideas after the competition. However, to ensure fairness, all airplanes entered in this challenge must adhere to these directions.

1. Fold an 8.5 " x 11" sheet of paper in half lengthwise (like a hot dog).
2. Fold the short edge of one side down to the crease to produce a 45-degree angle. Repeat this step on the other side.

Name:___________________________________________ Date:_____________________

• 3. Fold the new fold you have created to the original fold you made in Step 1. Repeat on the other side.
• 4. Complete Step 3 again for both sides.
• 5. Hold the center and open the wings out.

When the teacher says it's time for a practice flight, you will get a chance to see how effective your plane-making skills are. When you take your plane on its first flight, your observations will allow you to see what modifications might be necessary to result in a more efficient flight. Record your observations._________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Team Challenge

Participants will work together in teams for a total of 12 minutes to make a paper airplane to be used for the flight contest. When the teacher signals it is time to stop working, teams will take their airplanes outside or into an open space for the contest.

The teacher will select groups of two or three for the team challenge and will assign a number to each group.

Once teams have been selected, the teacher will record the start time. You will have exactly 12 minutes to get your team's supplies and make your team's airplane. Any team that continues to work on its plane at any point after the teacher has called time may be disqualified from the contest. Your team's goal is to make a paper airplane that will travel the farthest distance.

Start Time______: ______+ 12 Minutes =______:______ End Time

Airplanes must be released into flight at approximately 5 feet from the ground. When the teacher gives the signal, you will release your airplane and measure the distance from the start point. The goal is to have your team's plane complete the longest flight (in terms of distance, not time) from start to finish. Each team will have four flight opportunities. Distances must be recorded in the space provided.

1. Each team will take the best distance out of the four flight opportunities. Record the distances in the space below:
   Flight #1:______ yd______ ft______ in. Flight #2:_____ yd_____ ft_____ in.
   Flight #3:______ yd______ ft______ in. Flight #3:_____ yd_____ ft_____ in.

Name:______________________________________________ Date:________________

• 2. Convert each flight into inches. Remember that each yard = 36 inches, and each foot = 12 inches.
  Flight #1: (____ yd x 36 =____ in.) + (____ ft x 12 =____ in.) + (____ in.) =____ total in.
  Flight #2: (____ yd x 36 =____ in.) + (____ ft x 12 =____ in.) + (____ in.) =____ total in.
  Flight #3: (____ yd x 36 =____ in.) + (____ ft x 12 =____ in.) + (____ in.) =____ total in.
  Flight #4: (____ yd x 36 =____ in.) + (____ ft x 12 =____ in.) + (____ in.) =____ total in.
• 3. Compute the average inches traveled in a flight.
  Flight #1____ in. + #2____ in. + #3____ in. + #4____ in. = total____ in. ÷ =____ in.
• 4. What size would the paper be if it were doubled?_____ in. x_____ in.
  Predict what might happen if the size of the plane were doubled. Explain your answer.
  ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
  ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
  ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
  ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
  ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
• 5. What size would the paper be if it were cut in half?_____ in. x_____ in.
  Predict what might happen if the size of the plane were cut in half. Explain your answer.
  ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
  ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
  ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
  ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
  ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
• 6. What was the farthest distance traveled by an airplane in today's challenge?_____ in.
• 7. Convert this distance back into yards, feet, and inches.___ in.___ = yd___ ft___ in.

Name:_______________________________________ Date...