September 11 - 15, 2017

Last week students began an engineering design challenge that I had anticipated lasting just one week, but students have been so excited about the research aspect of this project that we are extending it!  This week, students will continue to work on their Project Lunar Base Student Notebook and create their own lunar colonies.  In addition to understanding the implementation of the Engineering Design Process, students are learning to use digital collaboration through the cloud, sharing documents with me and their team members via Office 365.  Last week's vocabulary words will be extended to this week as well as we make connections between the academic language on assessments and how to apply them in science.  A reminder of our words: support, develop, explicit, ambiguous, identify. We will quiz on those words on Friday.

Monday
Students must complete their plan.  This plan includes a list of materials, a step by step protocol, and a diagram of what their model will look like.  Once students have submitted their plan for approval, they will receive their exact materials and a permit to build.  Any changes to their materials, plan, or process must be written and re-approved. Students may still bring in their own materials, but those materials must be included in their plan.  Donations of extra materials are humbly accepted. 

Tuesday
Students will continue to build their lunar colonies.  Some students may begin to finish their construction. The next step of the process has students discussing sustainability and scalability of their idea.  They will reflect on whether their solution is a long term or short term solution.

Wednesday
As students are finalizing construction details, they must begin to prepare the presentation of their colony to their classmates.  This presentation may include:

  Option 1: Create a brochure inviting people going to the Moon to visit your lunar base.

  Option 2: Create a list of instructions with pictures showing how the lunar base looks and functions. What are the key features?

  Option 3: Create a video showing explaining the lunar base and how it functions.

  Option 4: Create an advertisement for lunar base and mission.  

Thursday
Students will complete their projects.  Groups may begin practicing their presentation.  Presentations will occur on Friday.

Friday
Presentations!  We will learn about each group's amazing research and efforts as they share their lunar colony.  We will also reflect on the Engineering Design Process and its importance in our project.


Homework:

Monday 9/11 - In two sentences, tell me how your lunar colony works and why it’s a viable option?

Tuesday 9/12 – Write about the glows and grows of the day today.  Did you make as much progress as you thought you would?  What had an affect on that?

Wednesday 9/13 – What is the difference between support and develop?  Use an original example to explain if you can.

Thursday 9/14 – Write about your group experience on this project.  Specifically reflect on each member of your groups’ participation. Were they helpful?  Did they contribute ideas, work, etc?