Hovering Hovercrafts

Hovering Hovercrafts Project Based Learning in Out-­‐of-­‐School Time Hovering Hovercrafts, Batman! Are they really doing this In Afterschool? Project Overview !   Teams of students will build a large circular Hovercraft powered by a leaf blower that they can ride. !   They will create a new way to travel…the future of transportation! Reflect Think about one of your most significant, most memorable learning experiences in your life.... What made it so? What made it powerful? What did you do? . Project Based Learning – PBL 101 !   Students doing, not teachers lecturing !   Adult world application of skills !   Taps student interests and drive !   Open-­‐ended !   Multi-­‐disciplinary !   Teaches resource management What we are after: !   Engagement & Fun Filled !   Hands On, Experiential !   Motivated Learning !   Appeals to Multiple Intelligences !   Creates Learning Moments !   Product Driven, Goal Oriented !   Collaborative Work st
21 Century Learning . Skills !  Thinking and problem solving skills !  Information and communication skills !  Interpersonal and self-­‐direction skills Full STEaM Ahead!! !
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 S-­‐ cience  T-­‐echnology  E-­‐ngineering  A-­‐rt !  M-­‐athematics DO NOT TEACH DIRECTLY! The following information is intended for teacher content education purposes only, in order to help students see the science behind their explorations, designs, and thinking! Direct Teaching will surely cause students to tune out immediately and is against the out of school culture. Discovery Task #1: Mini-­‐Hovercraft Materials: Steps: •  1 CD 1. 
•  1 Pop Top 2.  Close Pop Top •  1 Balloon 3.  Blow up Balloon •  Hot Glue Gun (go to station) 4.  Quickly attach Balloon to pop top Hot Glue Pop Top to center opening of CD 5.  Release valve and Voila-­‐-­‐-­‐ Discovery Task #1: Mini-­‐
Hovercrafts Why does it Work? Pressed Gas = Pressure Discovery Task #2: Paper Tunnel Materials: Steps: •  2 books 1.  Place books side by side 3 inches apart •  1 piece of paper •  1 straw 2.  Place paper on top 3.  Point straw into Paper Tunnel and Blow 4.  What happens? Discovery Task # 2: Paper Tunnel Why does it Work? Fast Gas = Low Pressure Discovery Task # 3: Coke Can Pressure Materials: Steps: •  2 Coke Cans 1.  Place all straws together side by side •  10 straws 2.  Place each can on top of straws at each end 3.  Blow between cans 4.  What Happens? Discovery Task # 3: Coke Can Pressure Why does it Work? A Daring Example of Air Pressure…. Why does it Work? Quick Question: A set of points, in a plane, that are equidistant from a given point. What am I? . Diameter Hovercraft Parts !   Circle Platform-­‐-­‐-­‐ ½” Plywood !   Plastic Skirt -­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐ shower curtain or Plastic sheet (painter’s drop cloth) !   Chamber Disc-­‐-­‐ frisbee or small disc !   1 “ Bolt, washer and nut !   Duct Tape to seal skirt !   Pressure Air holes Building Your Hovercraft (Basic Plans)… See detailed instructions 1. 
Cut out Circle 3 to 4 foot Diameter 2.  Drill out hole ½ radius for Leaf Blower (size for leaf blower) 3.  Cut of Plastic Skirt in a circle 5-­‐6” larger than Board 4.  Drill Hole in Center of Board 5.  From Bottom attach chamber disc pinning skirt to board with Bolt. 6.  Wrap excess skirt on top of board (with a little room for pressure) with Duct Tape 7.  Cut out 4-­‐6 vent holes in bottom Experiment with placement of holes, skirt length, wrap, etc…..Go Ride and Experiment! Content Connections ? ? ? ? Hovercrafts ? ? Content Connections Art Air Pressure History Just to Name a Few Hovercrafts Newton’s Laws Math of Circles Other? What Now? !   Hovercraft Races !   Pimp out your Hovercraft Ride…attach a chair, build steering mechanism !   Hovercraft Parades !   Fundraiser at school carnival !   Human Shuffleboard !   Hovercraft Bowling Experience First, Learning Second !   Learning bubbles up during the experience! !   21st Century Skills !   Engineering Design: Design, Test, Modify, Retest !   Opportunities for Integrated Learning-­‐ History, Math, Community, Connections !   Innovate to Create! Interested in More STEaM Projects? !   Balloon Cars, Water Rockets, Judo Math, Mythbusters, Toy Factory, Dream Job….. Project Based Learning Consultants !   Contact: !   Dan Thoene: [email protected] !   Jamie Holmes: [email protected] !   Marc Shulman: [email protected] Gas has Mass !   Anything with mass and in motion produces a Force-­‐ Newton’s 2nd Law Integrated Learning