In this interdisciplinary expeditionary learning project, students study machines as used today and in ancient civilizations. As they investigate machines, they tinker with, take apart, and build their own machines, investigating and discussing questions that come up along their expedition.
Students build a bike and create their own accompanying bike manual using the computer.
After research and discussion of their community, students then give the bike and manual to someone in need. To help students make sense of their discoveries as they tinker with bicycles and other machines, we have outlined many classroom activities. In the computer lab, students edit, illustrate, word-process, and publish the bike manual. This work includes taking digital pictures of their own recycled bikes and scanning and downloading relevant images to clarify their text. They also use the Internet to research laws, statistics, and resources for bikers in the New York City area.