Unit Summary
Water Transport System
Danielle Freiermuth, Tucker Jensen and Lynda Yang Gungsing
Process and Introduction of Our Project
Unit Implementation:
This went really well:
Here's what happened:
- We knew we wanted an engaging and meaningful project.
- Standard 4.1.3.1 "Water"
- Humans improve their existence by interacting with and influencing Earth's systems.
- Tucker was in the process of planning a trip to Honduras.
- Exciting way to model our project after a real problem
- Materials
- Students had to "buy" the materials using Lempira
- Scaffolding
- Scenario
- "Edgar is a fifteen year old boy living in Honduras, a small country in Central America. Every day, his family has to walk a long way just to get clean water, just like the water that comes out of our faucets. How can we help Edgar get clean water efficiently?"
- Edgar recurred throughout the week.
- Student Engagement
- Application of students' background knowledge
- Designing Solutions
- Using Engineering Design
- Evaluating Solutions
Tubing- 20 Lempiras/6 inches
Straws- 10 Lempiras/1
Duct Tape- 20 Lempiras/6 inches
Small Plastic Cup- 40 Lempiras
Styrofoam Cup- 50 Lempiras
Large Plastic Cup- 60 Lempiras
Coffee Cup- 70 Lempiras
This is what we would do differently:
- Have clear evaluation criteria
- Connection between technology and handout
- Explain good notes early on
- Expectations and procedures clearly explained
- Bring economics into the unit
(4.2.1.1.1, 4.2.3.3.1, and 4.2.4.5.1)
Day 1-
- Introduced students to Honduras
- Discussion - water homes
- Brainstorm
- Picked top three systems
Day 4-
- More testing
- Work on their final presentation
- Outlining design process
- Cost of materials
- Modifications/Alteration
Day 3
- Construction Day!
- Budget
- Materials table
- Organized notes on measurements and materials
- Test
- What worked? What didn't?
Day 2
- Decision-making grid
- Sketched design
Day 5-
- Questions
- Present
- Future
- Reveal what they are doing now In Honduras.