Invengineering 2011 Teacher: Meryl Wolf Roberge Elementary School Woodside Elementary School River Vale, New Jersey, USA Fifth Grade SAGE Students: Holly, Christine, Lauren, Nicole, Matthew, Tyler, Justin, Rima, Seana, Cole, Emma, Jesse, Rachel, Justin, Chelsea, Jack Trillium Learning Global 21 st Century Schools Project

“Design Technology is a blend of science and invention; it allows children to be involved in problem solving in the real world. It gives them the capability and the confidence to design, construct, and evaluate working models. “Design Technology is a blend of science and invention; it allows children to be involved in problem solving in the real world. It gives them the capability and the confidence to design, construct, and evaluate working models. Barbara Barbara

SAGE SAGE stands for Supplemental And Gifted Education. Participants in the fifth grade S.A.G.E. program spent the first several months of this year on an Invengineering challenge so named because the students are expected to be inventive and creative in their approach to tower design. Although, they have specifications to which they must adhere, they are asked to develop a tower that is aesthetically appealing and attractive as well as sturdy. SAGE stands for Supplemental And Gifted Education. Participants in the fifth grade S.A.G.E. program spent the first several months of this year on an Invengineering challenge so named because the students are expected to be inventive and creative in their approach to tower design. Although, they have specifications to which they must adhere, they are asked to develop a tower that is aesthetically appealing and attractive as well as sturdy.

Project Overview Each team in the Northern Valley Invengineering Expo Challenge must design and construct a model tower to be destructively tested to determine the design efficiency of the tower. The process is documented in a log book and/or photo journal. In addition, there must be an exhibit for your work, and a 90 second oral presentation. Each team in the Northern Valley Invengineering Expo Challenge must design and construct a model tower to be destructively tested to determine the design efficiency of the tower. The process is documented in a log book and/or photo journal. In addition, there must be an exhibit for your work, and a 90 second oral presentation.

Project Requirements Before we began building our tower, we had to read the rules in The Student Guide To Tower Building. We were given twelve 24” strips of 1/8 square balsa wood, green colored wood glue, and graph paper for diagrams of the top and side views. We also used foam core board and wax paper when we were cutting. We organized all of our equipment and decided how we would proceed.

In preparation, we read about towers, and learned about how to make them strong. We went on the PBS building BIG site, where we learned about compression, tension, force, shapes, loads, and skyscrapers by using an interactive lab.

The Tower The tower had to meet the following specifications in order to be eligible to compete: Four sides, with the top view being a square Four sides, with the top view being a square Width of each side between 2 ¾” and 3” Width of each side between 2 ¾” and 3” Height between 8” and 9” Height between 8” and 9” The design must allow a ½” rod to pass through the center from top to bottom. The design must allow a ½” rod to pass through the center from top to bottom.

Design We planned a design as a group. We all thought about it and then decided that our design should be made up of triangles. We chose triangles because they are the strongest shape. This was important since our towers needed to be strong because they would be destructively tested later on. Next, members of the teams started drawing the design on graph paper to scale.

Building Process We used a variety of tools when we made our tower. We had several cutting tools. Two of them were thin or thick handles with blades (Exacto Knives) and two were angle cutters (Timber Cutters) that showed which angle to cut on. We used the angle cutter the most because we really needed to get the exact angle or the pieces of the wall wouldn’t fit together.

After designing the tower, the building began! We started building the frame of the walls for the tower. With the frame in place, we carefully used a pencil to mark the place where to cut the wood for the horizontal bars.

When we had all of our pieces cut out we placed and fitted them together and pinned them down onto a piece of wax paper. After that, we used green wood glue to glue the balsa wood pieces in place. Once they were dried and became a wall, we glued the walls together as a tower. When we had all of our pieces cut out we placed and fitted them together and pinned them down onto a piece of wax paper. After that, we used green wood glue to glue the balsa wood pieces in place. Once they were dried and became a wall, we glued the walls together as a tower.

Putting it together was a team effort

While some of us built the tower, another person worked on the logbook, which is a record of what we did each day. Other people worked on the skit/ presentation which could only be 90 seconds long. Towards the end, one or two people worked on the presentation board. The whole experience got everyone involved and excited. The Process of Invengineering

Presentation Board

Sample Log Book Page November 3, 2010 Holly, Matt, Tyler, Lauren The electronic log book documented our daily progress.

The Expo At the multi-town expo we presented our towers and then tested them. The testing process started with them making sure the height and width met the requirement. Then they used a machine to put pressure on the tower. Whichever tower was the most efficient was the the winner. At the multi-town expo we presented our towers and then tested them. The testing process started with them making sure the height and width met the requirement. Then they used a machine to put pressure on the tower. Whichever tower was the most efficient was the the winner. Efficiency = Force or Load (Applied force on tester) Weight or Mass (weight on scale ) Weight or Mass (weight on scale )

Weigh In

Competing Towers-Day 1 There were a total of 18 teams over a two day period. These are towers from day 1.

These are our towers.

Presentations It was fun to watch all the unique and creative presentations by the different teams. After all our hard work writing our scripts, practicing them, and timing them to make sure they were not over 90 seconds, it was time to present in front of all the other students. It was fun to watch all the unique and creative presentations by the different teams. After all our hard work writing our scripts, practicing them, and timing them to make sure they were not over 90 seconds, it was time to present in front of all the other students.

90 second presentation- Roberge Team We came up with a skit where three of us were good elves, three of use were evil elves and there was a narrator. The evil elves had to be stopped from destroying towers.

90 second presentation- Woodside Team #1 Our theme was party animals and our team was the Boreseals. We got that name by combining our favorite animals: the beaver, the gorilla, and the weasel.

90 second presentation- Woodside Team #2 This presentation was a TV news show with two of us interviewing the other two who were the building designers.

Based upon the tower’s efficiency they were categorized into three groups. The groups in order from lowest to highest were bronze, silver, and gold. All of the Woodside S.A.G.E. 5 th grade students placed in the silver category while the Roberge 5 th grade S.A.G.E. students placed in the gold group. Everyone received a certificate in recognition of their achievement.

Testing the tower’s efficiency

Our presentation boards

Roberge students used Adobe Photoshop

Structural Analysis Predictions After viewing all the structures and listening to the presentations we completed an analysis sheet predicting into what category our tower would fall, which design was our favorite and why, and what similarities and differences we noticed among all the towers. After viewing all the structures and listening to the presentations we completed an analysis sheet predicting into what category our tower would fall, which design was our favorite and why, and what similarities and differences we noticed among all the towers.

Student Reflections After participating in the Invengineering Expo Challenge students completed evaluation forms. Here are some of their comments: After participating in the Invengineering Expo Challenge students completed evaluation forms. Here are some of their comments: I learned that being put into a group you have to really compromise with your team and make the most out of the supplies you have. (Emma) I learned that being put into a group you have to really compromise with your team and make the most out of the supplies you have. (Emma) I noticed that cooperation and teamwork really count. (Christine) I noticed that cooperation and teamwork really count. (Christine) I learned that triangles are the strongest shapes. (Tyler) I learned that triangles are the strongest shapes. (Tyler) I learned that it was a lot harder than I thought. (Cole) I learned that it was a lot harder than I thought. (Cole)

You have to learn to work with your team because everyone has different ideas. (Lauren) You have to learn to work with your team because everyone has different ideas. (Lauren) It takes hard work and lots of time to build a tower. Sometimes less weight is better. (Jack) It takes hard work and lots of time to build a tower. Sometimes less weight is better. (Jack) I observed that everyone’s towers and presentations were different in a good way. (Chelsea) I observed that everyone’s towers and presentations were different in a good way. (Chelsea) Responding to a question about their preparation: We had problems here and there but we solved all of it together. (Jesse) We had problems here and there but we solved all of it together. (Jesse) Preparing was fun because we learned all about towers and learned great facts that no one knew before. (Rachel) Preparing was fun because we learned all about towers and learned great facts that no one knew before. (Rachel) It was fun building and preparing as a team. (Justin) It was fun building and preparing as a team. (Justin)

Commenting about sportsmanship and peer support: Everybody was a good sport. (Matt) Everybody was a good sport. (Matt) Everyone worked together well and no one was fighting. (Nicole) Everyone worked together well and no one was fighting. (Nicole) Responding to a question about how the individual was important to the team: I came up with the tower design and the script. (Holly) I came up with the tower design and the script. (Holly) I helped by always sharing my opinions in group discussions, the presentation board, the log book and deciding on photos. (Rima) I helped by always sharing my opinions in group discussions, the presentation board, the log book and deciding on photos. (Rima) Commenting about the presentations: Some people were quiet and nervous but everyone did a good job. (Seana) Some people were quiet and nervous but everyone did a good job. (Seana) I felt a lot of pressure watching the towers being tested. (Justin) I felt a lot of pressure watching the towers being tested. (Justin)

A Woodside student said: After the expo, we realized that we could have improved our towers to get into the gold category. For one thing, we could have made the tower more level so it could hold an even balance of weight on all sides and not crumble on one side. The View After the Expo

Newspaper coverage: Page 1

Bottom of page 1 of the article Students wrote stories about their experience which were published in the newspaper along with photos

Page 2

Bottom of page 1 of the article

It seemed like everyone liked the multi-town expo. We all met someone new and made a few more friends. Overall, this was an experience everyone enjoyed. Each tower was different, but all used triangles to make them strong. The towers were tested and eventually destroyed; watching each tower and waiting for them to collapse was exciting. The different groups all did a 90 second presentation, which fortunately, turned out great! This experience was enjoyable for all, and an awesome learning experience.