What is technology? Who are the people that make technologies? Let’s name some examples of each!

Technology DefinitionExamples Non-Examples Pictures An ______________________ is a person who designs technologies. Technology is anything made by people that solves a problem. engineer

Science vs. Engineering SCIENCE – deals with the natural world ENGINEERING – deals with anything built by people to solve a problem. Often science and math are used.

The Windmill Challenge

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

Windmills

Engineering Design Process Ask: What’s the problem? What have others done? What are the limits? The Goal Ask Imagine Plan Create & Test Improve Imagine: What could be some solutions? Brainstorm ideas. Choose the best one. Plan: Draw a diagram. Make a list of materials you will need. Create: Follow your plan to create it. Test it out! Improve: What worked? What did not? Make your design even better. Test it out!

Today it is your job to imagine how you can use the materials to build a windmill that will rotate when the wind is blown and remain standing.. Your second job is to work with your teammates. You’ll have to come up with a plan on how to build your team’s windmill!

Requirements Your windmill prototype must be at least 30 cm tall Your windmill must spin Your windmill tower must remain standing when the wind blows 30 minutes to construct Limitations You can use no more than five different materials for your windmill tower You cannot tape the windmill tower to the table

Materials: Tape, 1 push pin, 1 piece of computer paper, 1 pencil (free)  Cans  Boxes  Newspaper  Construction paper  Clay  Straws  Popsicle sticks  Foil  Toothpicks  Gumdrops  Any recycled material (cans, plastic containers, etc.)

Ask: How can we build a sturdy, working _____________________ tower?

Imagine: THINK!!! Draw two ideas of how you can make the windmill tower sturdy enough to stand during the wind and have the windmill spin.

Plan: Meet with your teammates. Give and get feedback. Choose the strongest pan or use everybody’s ideas to develop ONE plan.

Create/Test: Work together and use your plan to create a windmill that spins and remains standing when the wind blows. Test it!

Share: How did you construct your windmill?

Improve: What would you try next time (diagram or words)?