Little Engineers

1V are busy at it again!. Engineering that is.

This term students have been set another engineering design challenge. This time to link it to our unit on changes in the sky and landscape they are required to design and engineer a device capable of telling the time on the hour.

This term we decided to go about it a little differently and create our first prototype using the limited prior knowledge that the students had. Students were familiar with an analogue clock and know how to tell the time on the hour. The class had been introduced to the idea that the landscape changes and also looked a little at the sun and noticed that it created shadows that appeared differently depending on whether it was morning or afternoon. We had also experimented by tracking the sun hourly over the course of the day to see the shadows move.

 

The following design challenge was then set:

We have lots of clocks inside to tell us the time (wall, computer etc.) but we don’t have any clocks outside.

Can you design a device that uses the sun/nature to tell the time of day?

• You can use any natural material as well as paper/ plastic cup/ paper plate / tape /pencils / chalk.
• You must be able to accurately show/record the time in hours.
• You must be able to reuse your device another day to check your accuracy. E.g use it on Monday and Tuesday to tell the time and see if it works both days.
• You need to record each time by writing or taking photos.

Students set to work on the engineering process. First designing and then building their own time devices. It was very interesting to see the way in which students interpreted the task and to what extent they used their background knowledge to engineer their device. There sure were some creative designs and ways in which students hypothesised how their time devices would work.

Please watch these videos. I guarantee you will just LOVE them!

 

Next step TESTING our first prototypes! Stay tuned!

PS- Parents- I’m sure you’re itching to give hints for when we engineer prototype #2 but I ask you to please refrain from doing so. This whole process encourages students to use their own critical thinking and problem solving skills throughout the whole engineering process.