Everybody worked with a partner and learned about designing and building, from creating basic blueprint plans, to making materials lists, and writing step-by-step instructions to guide their work. After learning this design process, students then built their constructions.
First, working groups used real woodworking tools and basswood to make catapults. Which was more fun -- making the catapults or doing the test runs flinging wet sponges to find the greatest average distance the sponge would go?
Once certain benchmarks were met creating the catapults, students then dove into designing and building their own working vehicles. Partners needed to decide on the basic plan, and on what kind of power their car would use to travel three meters. Through careful planning and constant trouble-shooting, students learned many aspects of design technology and moved at their own pace.
There were wind-powered cars, rubber band power, push power, propellers, and motor powered cars.
