By building, observing, and experimenting with terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, students investigate the interdependence of living and nonliving elements on their environment. Students also simulate the effects of common pollutants such as road salt, fertilizer run off, and acid rain on their ecosystems. They report their findings and pool their data. This module deals with exploration and comparison of the properties of different building materials and how design is influenced by function. Tension, compression and aesthetic elements are investigated using a variety of shapes and materials used by architects and structural engineers.
Students build and investigate small-scale structures.
Students explore the physics of motion and apply these concepts by designing and building vehicles. They design a vehicle using two and three dimensional technical drawings and build the vehicle with plastic construction material, weights, rubber bands, and propellers. Students test the vehicle for speed applying concepts such as friction and kinetic and potential energy. Students are then given a chance to redesign their vehicles based on their findings. This module deals with the relationship of magnetism and electricity and how these forces interact to produce motion in a motor.