Page 9 - TTWIWinter2024V2

STEM
Teaching Today Wisconsin | Winter 2024 Volume 2 Page 9

Kennedy Middle School Technology & PLTW Education Changing with the Times

Continued from Page 4
composition, and editing. They will then expe- eling software to design and perform CAD
rience the teamwork of multi-camera Television Drawings of a Car and boat vehicle. Stu-
Production by planning, performing and filming dents will fabricate their car and boat vehicle
a game show in one take. The stop-motion ani- design and perform weight to speed ratio tests.
mation unit will explore the filmmaking process Students will design a Product to 3D Print, uti-
including set building and storytelling. Students lizing the 3D Modeling Software. Students will
will also build a working paper plate micro- create a Graphics Design for constructing a 3”
phone/speaker to learn about electrical aspects button. Critical thinking, teamwork and prob-
of communication. lem-solving skills are incorporated throughout
Manufacturing (7th & 8th Grade) the course. Students will organize a Portfolio
Students will perform Plastic Castings including all of their activities.
to create a Football tee, Giant Clothes Pin and Design & Modeling (B) (8th Grade) (PLTW)
Flexible Frog. Students will perform Plastic Students will utilize the PLTW 3-D mod-
Injection Molding to create a screwdriver set, eling software to design and perform CAD
Rotational Molding to create a bank and Plastic Drawings of a Mag-Lev and Airplane vehicle.
Vacuum Forming to create a mold design for Students will fabricate their Mag-Lev and Air- various types of circuits. Students will learn Robotics b is a continuation of the A
candy making. Students will perform Plastic plane vehicle design and perform speed ratio about spaceflight and aerodynamics by building course with an emphasis on programming. First,
Thermoforming to create a Clear picture frame. tests. Student Teams will design and fabricate and testing a flying model rocket. students will learn how to code every type of
Students will perform fabrication, assembly and a “Leaf blower” hover Craft that a student can sensor and motor. Students will then design and
finishing of a “Gum Ball Machine” from wood. operate. Students will create a Graphics Design Automation and Robotics (A) (7th & 8th build a four- motor robot and code it for autono-
Students will design a 3D Printed Name Tag. and transfer it to a “T-Shirt.” Critical thinking, Grade) (PLTW) mous AND radio-controlled operation. Students
Students will design a Mold to CNC Machine teamwork and problem-solving skills are incor- In this course students will learn the skills will then race to complete various timed tasks in
for Plastisol Casting. Students will perform porated throughout the course. Students will needed to construct a smooth-running, reli- a class wide competition.
Pre-Engineering CAD drawings of the gum ball organize a Portfolio of all of their activities. able machine that can follow instructions. The
machine and Name Tag, utilization the PLTW Transportation (7th & 8th Grade) class will start in the lab where students build a Watch for part 2 in the following (Spring
3-D modeling software. Students will operate a This class emphasizes a project - based hydraulic arm and various mechanisms, demon- 2024) issue of Teaching Today WI™
Production Plastics Injection Molding Machine. engineering style approach to problem solving. strating how mechanical energy is transferred.
Critical thinking, team work and problem Students will apply power tool skills and simple Students then combine multiple mechanisms
solving are incorporated into the construction physics to design and build a mousetrap and and electric motors into a project of their own www.gsdwi.org/o/
and testing of a “Rube Goldberg” device. design. Students will then write a program to kennedy
crash car. They will continue to modify and put their project into motion.
Design & Modeling (A) (7th & 8th Grade) improve the vehicle as they try to get it to travel
(PLTW) as far as possible. Students will then learn Automation and Robotics (B) (8th Grade)
Students will utilize the PLTW 3-D mod- electrical energy by building a DC motor and (PLTW)

STEAM at Southern Door Schools Continued from Page 1

the collaborative work between CTE teach- are as they engage in their work. You’d
ers within the district as well as with local notice students working in teams, using a
industry. Teachers meet monthly to com- variety of tools and materials, and you’d
plete work that strengthens district-wide also notice the noise - evidence of produc-
programming, and local businesses are tive learning.
invited to participate in the annual Advi- A future growth area for the program
sory Council Meeting. These collaborations includes increasing student connections
provide structure, guidelines, support, and with industry experts and mentors. While
coordination for the enhancement of career Southern Door elementary students have
and technical education at Southern Door. had on site visits from computer science,
The goal is to better prepare students for master gardener, and sewing experts and
success in continuing education or the mentors, they realize the potential for
workplace. increasing student awareness of potential
At the elementary level, the STEAM job opportunities as well as helping them
program has a heavy focus on experiential to connect the work they are doing in the
learning, or learning through play-based STEAM room to the future work they will
experiences. Students are encouraged to be do outside of school.
curious and brave, ask questions, and lean
on one another when investigating potential
a variety of answers from robotics to card- light up, move, or make sound. once com- solutions to the day’s challenge or activity.
board engineering. And because of this, plete, the fingerboard parks will be used in They utilize the engineering design process www.sdsd.k12.wi.us
students are often given opportunities to a green screen project, where students will as they work, which encourages them to
blend the two. superimpose themselves on skateboards in persevere through failure and iterate to
This year, for example, students are the parks. Families will be encouraged to improve on prior attempts at a solution.
working to design fingerboard parks. Each engage with the fingerboard parks during Walking past the makerspace and
grade level’s park features obstacles, as the annual Family STEAM Night. glancing through one of the windows would
well as circuitry work that allows things to The program’s success is in part due to give you insight to just how busy students