Launching Spinning tops with 3/2S and 3C

Posted on March 10, 2014 by Jennifer Garlick

Dear Bloggers,

3/2S and 3c programmed and built launchers to move their spinning tops. The students investigated the effects of changing the size of the driver and follower gears and accurately recorded their results in a table. The time that the top spun for was measured with a stop watch and the pupils also wrote a program with the WeDo software to measure time. The children were then challenged to carry out the necessary design modifications and programming challenges to create the ultimate top and launcher pair that were able to keep the top in motion for as long as possible. The photos below show the winning device. The winning team introduced two large driver gears into the gear chain and two very small gears as followers. This was set up using compound gearing. The students then made the launcher into a crocodile. Wow I was very very impressed!!!!!

Thanks for calling by

Mrs Garlick

Year 2 get Launched

Posted on February 17, 2013 by Jennifer Garlick

Dear Bloggers,

Year 2 made a spinning top launcher whilst investigating gears. The picture below shows the basic design brief.

The students made a double sided spinning top that could be launched using the small blue gear or the medium sized red gear. They experimented to see the differences.

They discovered that using the small blue on the top with the large yellow gear on the launcher spun the top the fastest. This is a gearing up setup where a large drive gear turns a small driven or follower gear.

That was just the beginning. The students had to design and make a non hand held launcher, launch several tops at one time, investigate what made the top stable and make the design more robust. This is what they came up with.

A non hand held launch pad with a hinged lift off head

Thanks for calling by

Mrs Garlick

No problem is too hard for Year 2. Popcorn anyone?

Posted on December 9, 2012 by Jennifer Garlick

Dear Bloggers,

Year 2 has been working with wheels, axles and gears.

This lesson they were given the challenge to design a Popcorn cart that was:

stable
had a moving sign operated with a handle
mobile
able to hold popcorn

Kynan and Dominic pictured below, in one short hour, produced the most amazing results.

Their cart could steer as the steering wheel moved the front axle, had a mechanism using a crown and spur gear to turn the sign, the gearing ratios turned the sign slowly for ease of reading, the turning handle was easy to access, there were multiple trays to hold the popcorn and the drivers had a seat. The sign was double sided, clear and only contained significant words -‘ popcorn’ … the product , ‘delicious’ …. an enticing adjective and ‘a smiley face’ … an inviting and happy graphic.

WOW boys – well done.

Side or oblique view

other side

cart from behind

Needless to say the other students in Year 2 also produced brilliant models and worked very well.

Have a look in the gallery below.

Thanks for calling by

Mrs Garlick

2S ‘Gear Up’ to use the Not So Simple ‘Simple Machines’.

Posted on October 23, 2012 by Jennifer Garlick

Dear Bloggers,

Year 2 are now using the ‘Simple Machines’ lego. We are currently doing a unit on ‘Gears’ and the children made simple machines with two gears the same size (direction change only), two different sized gears to gear up and down and they used an idler gear.

Thanks for calling by

Mrs Garlick

2AF know how to cool down

Posted on September 7, 2012 by Jennifer Garlick

Dear Bloggers,

The last few days have been quite warm but 2AF knew how to cool themselves down. They had to design and make a fan that: used gears or pulleys, moved a large amount of air and was stable. Lots of experimenting and design modifications occurred but by the end of the lesson all students had a wonderful fan. The secret: large propeller blades to move lots of air, a broad flat base for stability and a large driver gear with a small follower gear so that the blades move as fast as possible. It was a breeze really!!! (pardon the pun – I couldn’t resist).