LEGO-RACERS
a primary engineering project
OVERVIEW:
Boys and girls....start your engines! It is time for you and a partner to work together to design and build a high speed racing machine. You will use the steps of the engineering process to build a LEGO-Racer that will zoom down a track and cross the finish line. As you build your racer you will need to show evidence of your work by drawing, writing, and capturing pictures and videos that will be put in your engineering portfolio.
GOALS
Goal 1) Work in a team and use the steps of the design process to build a LEGO-Racer
Goal 2) Create an engineering portfolio that combines writing, drawing, pictures and videos to explain your work.
RULES OF DESIGN
1) You must follow the steps of the engineering process
2) The car must fit in a rectangle that is 4 inches wide by 10 inches long
3) You may add your own LEGO-guys / Props
THINK
1) What size should I make my car? A large car or small car? A wide car or skinny car? A low car or tall car?
2) What shape should my car be? Pointy? Flat? Boxy?
3) Do I want my car to be heavy or light?
BRAINSTORM
Draw a minimum of 10 different designs
circle 3 that you like....
Choose one that will be your final design
Create a video that explains your final choice and why you think it will be fast
VIDEO MUST INCLUDE:
Voice explaining your design and WHY YOU DESIGNED IT THAT WHY
(DETAILS, DETAILS, DETAILS!)
Students will use the SeeSaw app to create video
PLAN
Create a detailed drawing (blueprint) of your car on the Seesaw app.
The drawing must include 2 text captions
CREATE
Build your car in the LEGO-Space
One partner starts as the BUILDER, the other partner is the HUNTER
Builder: Builds the car
Hunter: Searches for LEGOS needed to build the car
*NOTE: Each partner will get a turn to be the builder and hunter
TEST
Test the car on a test racetrack
Take a video of your car on its first test run.
IMPROVE
Make adjustments to your car before race day
Test the car after each adjustment to see if the car improved in speed
COLLECT DATA
How much does your car weigh?
How long is your car? How wide is your car?
What does your car look like?
CREATE A STOP-GO ANIMATION OF YOUR CAR USING STIKBOT
RACE!
Have fun racing your car
Remember...good sportsmanship is the focus in this step
After each race...shake hands with your opponents, say "good job."
Brainstorming
TEST RUN
THE PHILADELPHIA FLYER
