Before we left for Spring Break, the students knew that they were going to have the chance to create a second dam. Now they understand that a dam holds back the water, and a small opening allows the water through to turn the turbines (electromagnetic) and this process creates electricity. They also learned that the placement of the hole in the dam is important to allow the water to move through with enough force (pressure) to make those turbines work.
The first step, of course, to get the dam to hold the water!
We have completely new materials....new buckets and
lots and lots of lego of various shapes and sizes!
To start with, the students met with their partner and drew and labelled their plan.
It was pretty exciting to get to choose what type of lego would be used.
There was a great deal of debate about this step!
I think my favourite part is hearing the students talk about what their plan of attack will be. They are focused and interested and very willing to work to real their goal.
As well, they share their thinking on paper including what they learned from the first challenge that will help them with this one, what part of the challenge they expect to give them difficulties and what the science involved with this challenge is.
What do you think of this plan?
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