This year we’re asking each NPASS trainer to do 8 trainings but only 6 topics. Please stick to a (roughly) monthly training schedule, and use the two extra workshops to extend the CBO's experience with two of the topics -- we recommend Balls & Tracks and Rubber Band Cars. Please do not use these extra sessions to introduce new curriculum materials that are not on this list since that will undermine the intended purpose of giving the CBO's a breather from the fast pace of topic changes.
#1 Balls & Tracks (Design-It!) [Sept/Oct 2006]
Children use pipe insulation to design Ski Jumps, Loop-the-Loops, Hills and Valleys (Roller Coasters) and other interesting structures. They roll marbles along their constructions to test them out. This has proved to be a very engaging set of activities for kids in the past.
#2 Balls & Tracks (continued) [Oct/Nov 2006]
Focus on logistics and pedagogy
#3 Gliders (Design-It!) [Nov/Dec 2006]
Children design and fly very simple index card airplanes without bending or folding the cards! They then gradually add to the design until their glider looks like a conventional airplane and can be launched from a rubber band powered launcher. Materials include index cards, binder clips, drinking straws, and other very simple items.
#4 Rubber Band Powered Cars (Design-It!) [Jan 2007]
Children first design the chassis of a simple car out of cardboard, paper plates and dowels. After testing their car on a ramp, they move on to design and attach a rubber band power source to the wheels so the car will run on a flat surface. Children test the effect of changing wheel size, type of elastic and other elements of their design.
#5 Rubber Band Powered Cars (continued) [Feb 2007]
Focus on logistics and pedagogy
#6 String Telephones (Design-It!) [March 2007]
Children design various ways of talking to each other using the old technique of connecting cups or cans with string and other materials. After mastering the simplest design, they create telephone exchanges and networks and figure out how to send their messages around corners.
#7 **** REVISED ****
Pick Your Own Design It Topic (by region). [April 2007]
Each mentor group should pick one of the remaining topics. You can find a brief synopsis of each topic on the Kelvin website
* Balloon Powered Cars
* Blinking Lights
* Cardboard Constructions
* Cranes
* Drinking Straw Structures
* Paper Bridges
* Pinball: Designing a Game
* Trebuchets
* Sand and Water Clocks
* Spinning Toys
* Straw Rockets
* String Telephones
#8 Robotics (4-H SET) [May 2007]
This unpublished curriculum will be used by permission of the developers at U. Cal (Davis) – thanks to Lynne SM for bringing it to our attention. We will use two design challenges from this program. One involves making a machine that draws a design on a sheet of paper; the other involves designing a device that will grip objects. Some materials are simple. Others will have to be ordered from supply houses.