Disclaimer |
It is important to know that not all of these projects are mine. Some have come from my peers, some have come from research, a few I've come up with myself, and others have come from students. If you're a teacher, please feel free to take any of these projects. If you're a student, please feel free to start practicing so you're able to triumph over all the competition.
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Instant Challenges (2 Days or Less)
Paper Bridge
I do this project every quarter with my first year engineering students and only once or twice with my second year engineering students. Each time I increase the required span of the bridge to make it more challenging and interesting. I've even added the need to support different weights such as pennies, wooden blocks, or a model car.
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Foil Boat |
Fling Machine |
Aerodynamic Device |
3D Printed Boats |
Mousetrap Car
Long Projects (3 Days or More)
Egg Drop |
Rockets/Airplanes |
Self-Propelled Car |
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Hamster Project
Description:
As a group of four students are designing a hamster obstacle course/playground. The exciting twist to this project is that groups are split into half and two students are on one side of the room (this side is New York City) and the other two stay on the other side of the room (this side is Los Angeles). Students cannot talk to the other side of the room through any sort of verbal communication. This means students still have someone of their side of the room who can help them, but they have to email or use some other sort of direct/instant message system to communicate with the other side of the room.
Students learn the importance of being detailed in their communication as they create parts that have to eventually be assembled to parts that their peers on the other side of the country are making. Students are only in their groups of four during the first day which is brainstorming and the last day which is presentations.
I have links below to the project description and the rubric.
As a group of four students are designing a hamster obstacle course/playground. The exciting twist to this project is that groups are split into half and two students are on one side of the room (this side is New York City) and the other two stay on the other side of the room (this side is Los Angeles). Students cannot talk to the other side of the room through any sort of verbal communication. This means students still have someone of their side of the room who can help them, but they have to email or use some other sort of direct/instant message system to communicate with the other side of the room.
Students learn the importance of being detailed in their communication as they create parts that have to eventually be assembled to parts that their peers on the other side of the country are making. Students are only in their groups of four during the first day which is brainstorming and the last day which is presentations.
I have links below to the project description and the rubric.