Science Technology Reading ENGINEERING Art Math!
As we integrate our study of Westward Expansion
across the curriculum,
all the above subject areas are included.
ENGINEERING:
Just as the early pioneers needed to be able to plan, work together, improvise, solve problems, create, design, engineer, construct, take risks, go back to the drawing board, learn from mistakes, and much more, the Seabury first through fourth grade wagon groups are learning similar skills.
Project 1: Can you make a wagon using the available supplies that will hold the most weight?
Bonus: Include accessories.
All 8 wagon groups set off to work:
The planning stage:
The engineering/construction stage:
Making an axle.
Using pipe cleaners to hold up the cover.
Lids make good wheels.
This group had to go back to the drawing board
when their wheels collapsed.
The finishing touches:
The cover
Some quilts
Ta da!
Ta da!
The testing stage:
They all are so unique.
All are ready to see how they did.
How many water bottles can your wagon hold?
Most are able to hold at least 6 bottles!
Project 2: Can you make a raft using the available supplies that will float a wagon for the longest period of time?
The planning stage:
Comparing plans
The engineering/construction stage:
Supplies include 20 popsicle sticks.
Supplies include glue.
Supplies include three feet of tape.
We treated it very carefully!
Supplies include three feet of yarn.
The test stage:
Most wagons floated for over 6 hours!
Project 3: Can you make a barrel using the available supplies that will hold water?
Supplies included clothespins, a toilet paper tube, one yard of string, and scraps of construction paper.
This is serious work.
We're getting this collaboration thing down!
What's the best way to do this?
They look like barrels but will they hold water?
The test stage:
We discover that it is difficult to make a barrel that holds water without using plastic!
Project 4: Can you make a temporary shelter using the available supplies that will shelter four pioneers?
Gathering supplies from nature:
We get some dirt for the foundation.
Some make a tepee shape out of sticks.
The three feet of "rope" come in handy.
This one is more of a burrow.
This one is almost like a lean-to.
The sticks on this one are arranged more like a pup tent.
The test stage:
Most of the temporary shelters could hold all four pioneers.
We're not sure if they would all withstand a heavy wind storm.
As you can tell, Thursday Engineering Day has become one of our favorite parts of Westward Ho!
The students are having so much fun and don't even realize that the skills they are learning today are equipping them for their future jobs which don't even exist yet!
Westward? Ho!!
