1. Slow Boat
Kari Clase, Bryan Hubbard, Alyssa Panitch, Evan Rebar, Tahira Reid and Nancy Tyrie

2. Feel the Power of the Force!
Run with a small piece of cardboard in front of you.
Did you feel a force pushing back on you?
Are there other times you have felt this type of force?

3. Feel the Power of the Force!
The force the students are feeling from the cardboard is termed a “drag” force. Movement of an object through a gas or liquid can create a drag force.

4. Low, Medium and High Drag

5. Low Drag (Easily moves through air and water)

6. Medium Drag

7. High Drag

8. Science Inquiry
Pull low, medium, and high drag objects through the water

9. Visuals of Low – High Drag Air Flow
Look at the lines that represent how air or fluid flows over the different shapes.
Which shape allows the most air or liquid to flow over it? This one has LOW drag. There is little force acting on this shape which is why it flows easily over it.
Which shape allows the least amount of air or liquid to flow over or past it? This one has HIGH drag. There is a lot more force acting on this shape and has a hard time flowing over the object. 1
Low
Drag 2 3 4 1 2 3
High
Drag 4 5 6

10. Slow Boat Design Challenge

11. How Slow Can You Go!
Two fourth graders went fishing in a small boat. One of them hooked a fish that was so big that it pulled the boat through the water. This made it really hard to reel in the fish. The fourth graders decided that they need to find a way to slow down the boat the next time they go fishing so that they do not have the same problem.
They would like you to help them design a boat that moves slowly through the water. You will be provided a plastic boat, to use as a prototype, which you can modify to make it move slowly through the water using the materials provided.

12. Problem Scoping Identifying the problem
What is the problem?
A caught fish is pulling boat through water too fast.
What is the goal?
To reduce the speed of the boat.
Who is the client?
Fourth grade students fishing
Who is the end user?
Any person fishing in a boat
a boat manufacturing company

13. Problem Scoping Identifying the problem
What are the design criteria (desired features)?
Increase the drag on the boat
Width and height design dimensions
What are the design constraints?
Depth design constraint
Materials provided

14. Constraints
Top View
Side View

15. Materials Material Cost Foam core board $2 Small plastic cup $1
Duct tape (per 2” strip)
$0.25
Lightweight foam
$0.50
Small foam plates
Piece of cloth
Zip tie
Craft stick
$0.10
Spoon

16. Idea Generation Individual Plan
Do you have enough information?
What questions do you still have?
In your design notebook, label “Individual Design” on one page
Draw a sketch of your design  Include labels, perspective, scale

17. Idea Generation Team Design
In your design notebook, label “Team Design” on next page.
Share your plan with members of your design team.
Agree on one design. Draw a sketch of your team design and create a list of materials you will need (and cost).

18. Solution Production and Performance - Construct and Test
You will have 15 minutes to construct
Keep in mind:
You must follow your team design
Use only the materials provided
Note any modifications you wish to make to your design

19. Solution Production and Performance - Construct and Test
How are we going to test our designs?
Test Conditions
Attach clip to front of boat.
Hold boat against back of tub.
Record time takes for front of boat to touch opposite end.

20. Data Collection Team # Trial 1 (seconds) Trial 2 Average Average Speed
(inches/second) 1 2 3 4 5

21. Communication Share Results
What were your results?
Did your team’s design meet the client’s needs?
In what ways did your team use what you know about drag forces to inform your design?

22. Optimization Improve and Re-design
In what ways could you improve your design?
What is one feature you could re-design?
To what extent could your re-design improve your results?

23. Data Collection - Redesign
Team #
Trial 1
(seconds)
Trial 2
Average
Average Speed
(inches/second) 1 2 3 4 5

24. Student Work

25. Literacy
Books
Toy Boat

26. Assessment