Simple Machines Game

I've found a new favorite game - it's called "Simple Machines" and it's from The Museum of Science + Industry in Chicago.

 

This is a wonderful game for introducing or reviewing simple machines with students. It's night time at the Museum of Science and Industry, and there is work for Twitch to do. But Twitch doesn't like work and tries to find the easiest way of getting things done. Students will have to help Twitch select the simplest ways to complete his tasks in collecting the items he needs. The game takes them through 4 simple machines - inclined plane, pulleys, levers, and wheels. Students are given a choice and must select the item that will make a simple machine which requires the least amount of force to get Twitch across the obstacle to his desired item.

I really like how the game uses pictures of real items that can be used as simple machines, and then draws an outline of how they will look as the machine when you hover over each item. I also like the way the game explains each of the machines and what is needed to exert the least amount of force in each of the situations. After the task is completed, the game also gives examples of each of the simple machines. If the student makes a mistake in the selection of the item, it allows the student to continue and shows the student the amount of force that is being exerted to move an item, or Twitch. The game will also explain why the item was not a good choice, after the failed attempt, that is. And, it allows the student to try again.

At the end of the game, it shows the total amount of force Twitch had to exert through the whole game. Any force left over is totaled and points are given based on the amount of force that is left over after all tasks have been completed. Then there is a little fanfare celebration, which is sort of fun and cheerful.

Unlike some of the other interactive science games on the web, I feel this game does an excellent job of allowing the students to learn about some of the rules of physics and engineering by doing, and performing everyday tasks. The characters in the game are computer generated; however, the rest of the items and backdrops in the game are photos of real items. This is another cool feature to the game as it allows students to really visualize how things work in the real world. They are also able to identify real objects within the game. (I spotted an Einstein Action Figure doll in the game just like the one I have sitting on my desk at school!) Besides the Einstein figurine, there are many technical items in the game such as a volt meter that Twitch must lift to get to the desire object on the other side.

Museum of Science and Industry - Chicago - Simple Machines Game

http://www.msichicago.org/fileadmin/Activities/Games/simple_machines/

Girls STEM Camp Video

Video from "STEM Camp 2011" at Normandale "Engineering is Science and Math and Creativity Too" of girls building hovercrafts. How cool is that?!


Mind you, this is not from our area, and does not involve our students - but with USF's Girls STEM Summits in May every year, this could happen. :)

Inspiring Elementary Engineering

You may be reading this today thinking there is something different about this blog. Very subtle changes, mind you, but big changes in store for this coming school year. You may have noticed the name has changed. That's right, the name is changing from Engineering by Design to Inspiring Elementary Engineering. We want to inspire elementary students to think-outside-the-box, and problem solve like so many engineers in the field often have to do on a daily basis. Along with the name change, I've changed the logo and banner a little. This is not the "official" logo for our District's Inspiring Elementary Engineering course that is being taught in some elementary schools throughout the district this coming school year; however, while I wait for the official design to be created and circulated, I came up with my own design using Photoshop CS5's 3D tools.

I also thought it was only right to change the name in the address to this blog, just slightly, to reflect the new class. Traditionally "EBD" has another acronym meaning used in ESE (special ed) classes. While we were trying to get away from this meaning, I thought we should stress the Engineering factor of the class. Since I will be teaching this course at Braden River Elementary, I added the BRE part to the address link.

I've also made a few changes to the left sidebar by adding links for teachers, and students, and included a news feeder to Discovery Science. It is my goal to not only make this a place for parents to read about their students' progress in my elementary engineering class, but to also make this a resource site for other engineering, especially elementary engineering teachers, and a fun site for students to visit and learn more about what goes into design and engineering. Please bookmark this page and visit it often throughout the year for updates in our engineering process as well as other reference information in STEM education (Science, Engineering, Technology, and Math).