In my first report on College for Kids I might have been
slightly negative but I think it improved as the week progressed. Most days I had two good helpers which really
helped move the class along. After each year I try to evaluate where the
projects might be improved for the next year based on the problems students
were having. For the model wind turbine
I used heat shrink tubing over where the lead wires are soldered to the motor
leads, still a couple of them broke off but it was much better than without the
tubing.
Heat Shrink Tubing on Leads |
On the mousetrap cars I used hot glue on the mousetrap to
lever arm connection and wrapped with string. In the past the kids would not
let the hot glue setup hard enough before moving the lever arm and it would
come apart. That was not an issue this year but one mousetrap pulled apart, I
guess somebody needs to build a better mousetrap. (groan)
The new project “Syringe Hydraulic Arm” went well for the
first time though but the issue that I was afraid of turned out to be a
problem; the tubing leaks connected to the syringe. I had wanted to find a
solution to this but I just ran out of time.
I am thinking that I can put a tube over the tube on the syringe and
then it would be a tight fit for the tubing.
The order I had the students assemble the parts for the project seem to
work out fine.
Syringe Hydraulic Arm New This Year All Screws Were Phillips Head & I Found Screwdrivers for .70 Each |
3/16" Tubing over Syringe End Makes Clear Tubing Tight Fix 7/28/2013 |
In the past I think some of the students were a little
older, I specify grades 5 to 8 but this year it appeared more students might
have been going into 5th grade.
Most of the harder or more dangerous steps were done by me, that is why
it takes me so long to get ready for this class. What I do fits the situation pretty well
where a shop with many tools is not available.
Bill Kuhl
http://www.ideas-inspire.com
College for Kids First Two Days Report
Creativity - Following Directions - Failure
Spatial Ability and Building Models
Planning a project like hydraulic arm in the coming event use this procedure. I found that this is the easiest way to develop hydraulic arms.
ReplyDeleteThanks
Henry Jordan
Hydraulic Seal Kits