Card Board Boat Challenge Lesson Plan—7th Grade Mathematics
Green School Reaccreditation
January 2015- May 2015
Objective:
· To have students build boats with recycled materials. To introduce the students to the Cardboard Boat Challenge Rules and to give them an overview of the project. Overall concepts being taught during the project will include but not be limited to scale and ratios, volume measurement, use of the Pythagorean Theorem, and orthographic drawing.
Additional Objectives:
· To ensure students include length, width, height, and volume calculations when creating their drawings. To conduct peer reviews of initial drawings.
· To test individual model boats in the water with weights. To make any changes based on finding to original design.
· To use recycled materials creatively.
Essential Questions: Can boats built with recycled cardboard carrying two students float and be propelled through the water?
Material: Recycled cardboard, postal and/or duct tape. A school-wide call for recyclable cardboard paper.
Subjects Covered/Skills: Mathematics. Ratios, geometry skills, basic measurements, volume measurement, drawing, critical thinking, problem solving, peer review and editing, collaboration and team building, recycling and reapplication of materials.
Activity: Semester-long project including drawing boat designs, creating scale models, creating full-scale models.
Assessment/Celebration: Recycling Regatta anticipated for April 24 at Severna Park Community Center sponsored by the 7th grade math class to include the whole school and invited parents. Celebration and after-action evaluation to take place in May.
Resources/Partnerships: A local business--Ellen Allen Annapolis--will supply recycled cardboard. Severna Park Community Center to provide venue for Recycling Regatta. School to collect/purchase other needed supplies.
Outcome: Students will understand the three phases of the Challenge: Design, Construction, and Launch. They will also write the approximate time line and the rules in their notebooks, watch the videos, and ask questions about the project.
Additional Notes: The design phase will consist of each student drawing their boat design. This will consist of hand drawings and orthographic drawings on Google Sketch Up software (Approximate dates: 1/16/15 – 2/13/15).
The construction phase will consist of two parts: each student constructing a scale model and team constructions of a full scale version of chosen boat designs. Three individual designs will be chosen by popular vote. Teams of 4 to 5 students will construct the full scale models. (Approximate dates: 2/20/15 – 4/17/15)
The launch is the final phase at a pool or in the Severn River (Approximate date: 4/24/15). Transportation to launch site TBD.
Cardboard Boat Challenge Rules:
1. All work is to be done in class. You may research designs outside of class but all drawings and construction must be done in class.
2. Three geometric solids must be included in the design of the boat.
3. The boat must be designed to hold at least two students.
4. The boat must be able to fit through the doorway of the classroom.
5. Only cardboard, duct tape, paper postal tape, and wood glue may be used in the construction. This will be supplied by the school.
6. Duct tape or the paper postal tape should be used to seal seams or to secure the cardboard together. It cannot be used to completely cover the boat or for waterproofing.
7. No water sealant or plastic may be used. This includes any plastic jugs or floatation devices.
8. Painting of the finished boat is allowed. This will be supplied by the student team.
9. Everyone on the boatbuilding team must have a specific job on the project.
10. Students will keep notes and document all pictures and ideas in the graph paper book provided. These will be turned in at the end of the project for a grade.
11. Individual oars or kayak paddles according to the design will be provided by the school.
12. Students may use a small plastic cup for bailing. This will be supplied the school.
Green School Reaccreditation
January 2015- May 2015
Objective:
· To have students build boats with recycled materials. To introduce the students to the Cardboard Boat Challenge Rules and to give them an overview of the project. Overall concepts being taught during the project will include but not be limited to scale and ratios, volume measurement, use of the Pythagorean Theorem, and orthographic drawing.
Additional Objectives:
· To ensure students include length, width, height, and volume calculations when creating their drawings. To conduct peer reviews of initial drawings.
· To test individual model boats in the water with weights. To make any changes based on finding to original design.
· To use recycled materials creatively.
Essential Questions: Can boats built with recycled cardboard carrying two students float and be propelled through the water?
Material: Recycled cardboard, postal and/or duct tape. A school-wide call for recyclable cardboard paper.
Subjects Covered/Skills: Mathematics. Ratios, geometry skills, basic measurements, volume measurement, drawing, critical thinking, problem solving, peer review and editing, collaboration and team building, recycling and reapplication of materials.
Activity: Semester-long project including drawing boat designs, creating scale models, creating full-scale models.
Assessment/Celebration: Recycling Regatta anticipated for April 24 at Severna Park Community Center sponsored by the 7th grade math class to include the whole school and invited parents. Celebration and after-action evaluation to take place in May.
Resources/Partnerships: A local business--Ellen Allen Annapolis--will supply recycled cardboard. Severna Park Community Center to provide venue for Recycling Regatta. School to collect/purchase other needed supplies.
Outcome: Students will understand the three phases of the Challenge: Design, Construction, and Launch. They will also write the approximate time line and the rules in their notebooks, watch the videos, and ask questions about the project.
Additional Notes: The design phase will consist of each student drawing their boat design. This will consist of hand drawings and orthographic drawings on Google Sketch Up software (Approximate dates: 1/16/15 – 2/13/15).
The construction phase will consist of two parts: each student constructing a scale model and team constructions of a full scale version of chosen boat designs. Three individual designs will be chosen by popular vote. Teams of 4 to 5 students will construct the full scale models. (Approximate dates: 2/20/15 – 4/17/15)
The launch is the final phase at a pool or in the Severn River (Approximate date: 4/24/15). Transportation to launch site TBD.
Cardboard Boat Challenge Rules:
1. All work is to be done in class. You may research designs outside of class but all drawings and construction must be done in class.
2. Three geometric solids must be included in the design of the boat.
3. The boat must be designed to hold at least two students.
4. The boat must be able to fit through the doorway of the classroom.
5. Only cardboard, duct tape, paper postal tape, and wood glue may be used in the construction. This will be supplied by the school.
6. Duct tape or the paper postal tape should be used to seal seams or to secure the cardboard together. It cannot be used to completely cover the boat or for waterproofing.
7. No water sealant or plastic may be used. This includes any plastic jugs or floatation devices.
8. Painting of the finished boat is allowed. This will be supplied by the student team.
9. Everyone on the boatbuilding team must have a specific job on the project.
10. Students will keep notes and document all pictures and ideas in the graph paper book provided. These will be turned in at the end of the project for a grade.
11. Individual oars or kayak paddles according to the design will be provided by the school.
12. Students may use a small plastic cup for bailing. This will be supplied the school.