Powhatan Engineering Camp

Presented by Diane Leighty – Mathematics Coordinator

Anne Larrick – Science Coordinator

Your Immersion into Engineering begins NOW!Hard hats, safety glasses, and safety vests provided!!!

How It All Started

• Engineering Fellows – Summer 2007– Expectations of Fellows Program– Sharing lessons with teachers/students– Assist MSiC with their summer program/create

one of our own

Why Engineering?

Real life skills developed through working on real problems

•Problem Solving Framework•Critical Thinking•Collaboration•Communication•Natural connections between math & science•Fun!

How to Build an Engineering Camp

The Nuts and Bolts

Development of A Plan• Group(s) to target• Cost and funding• Staffing needs• Location and transportation• Theme and lessons• Publicity • Field trips• Speakers/presenters

Target Group

• Grade level• Socioeconomic level• Sex ratio• Academic level

Cost and Funding

• Tuition - Charge to cover teacher salaries• Grants – to cover field trips and supplies• Donations• Use free speakers – NASA, parents• Use “found” materials for activities• Scholarships

Staffing• One teacher per 8-10 students (including

floaters, technology people)• Administrators • Technology staff• Assistants• Get teachers trained

– MathScience Innovation Center offerings– Children’s Engineering Convention (spring)

• Be sure your staff is enthusiastic!

Location and Transportation• We built on existing summer school program• Number of rooms – one per class and one for

group meetings• Computer access – set up laptop lab• Arrange for field trip transportation• Notice of times parents will have to pick up

Theme and Lessons• Theme drove the lessons chosen• Lessons found on internet (see resources)• Teachers submitted lessons for review to

avoid repetition and to create supplies list• Vertical alignment is important• Schedule lessons around major events

Publicity• Before

– Flyers sent home– Notices in local paper

• During – T-shirts– Student built web site– Article in local paper– Parent open house

• After– Presentations at conferences (VAST, GRTCM)

Field Trips• Allow students to see engineers at work• Try to stay local• Send permission slips early• Check on rules and regulations of site you are

visiting• Take plenty of chaperones• Be sure trip is age appropriate

Speakers/Presenters• Classroom speakers

– NASA– Parents– Engineering organizations– Engineering students

• Engineering Fair participants– Engineering organizations– Engineering firms– Engineering schools

Timeline• By Feb 1st – identify teachers • By Apr 1st – develop lesson plans & schedule• By May 1st – advertise and send out

applications ($ due with application)• By June 1st – Notify students of acceptance• By July 1st – purchase all materials needed;

have all speakers and field trips lined up• By Aug 1st – wrap up and debrief

Execution Tips

• Coordinate with other summer programs– Buses, emergency forms, snack

• Set up rooms the week before• Have labels with student names on them

prepared to use for name tags and to label items

• Reflect at the end of each day and revise as necessary

• Invite parents last day• Call the newspaper for publicity

Sample Flyer

Sample Application• Engineering: Enjoy the Ride!• • Application for enrollment Grades 4-5• • Due May 15• • Student Name: ____________________________________________• • Grade: _________________ Homeroom teacher: ______________________• • Name of Parent or Guardian: ______________________________________________• • Address: ________________________________________________________• • Parent email address: ______________________________________________• • Home Phone: _______________________ Work or Cell Phone: ___________________• • Will you be riding the school bus? YES _____________ NO ______________• • • Please complete the following:• • ___________ (YES or NO) I understand that there is no bus transportation on Friday, July 17th, and can arrange for transportation to and from the school on that

day.• • ___________ (YES or NO) My check for $100 is attached to this application. I understand that the money will be refunded should my child not be selected for

the program.• • • Signature of Parent or Guardian: ___________________________________________• • Applications are due by May 15th and may be turned in to the office at your school. Students will be notified of their acceptance to the program by May 28st.• • Teacher endorsement (To be completed by the classroom math or science teacher):• • I recommend that _______________________________ be selected to participate in Engineering Camp this summer because

_______________________________________• ________________________________________________________________________.• • Printed name: __________________________ Signature: _________________________

Ordering and Gathering Materialsgrades 2,3

Item activity quantity ordered from on handlocal

purchase scavengeAt end of camp

eye dropper polishing pennies 7 x

masking tape pasta bridges x

pipe cleaners homemade toys 500 x

rulers homemade toys 15 x

rulers geometric creatures 15 x

scissors general 15 x

spools geometric creatures 50 x

stop watch polishing pennies 7 x

straws bubble city 50 x

straws bubble machine 10 x

straws homemade toys 100 x

straws edible mars rover 100 x

straws float your boats 100 x

straws geometric creatures 100 x

tape, masking float your boats 7 rolls x

wire snips homemade toys 1 x

aluminum foil float your boats 3 rolls x

apple juice polishing pennies 1 qt. x

bubble mix bubble city 1 qt. x

Engineering: Enjoy the Ride!

Powhatan County SchoolsEngineering CampJuly 2008

Statistics - 08

• 34 students (entering grades 5, 6, 7, 8)• 2 classroom teachers• 1 ½ technology teachers• 2 administrators actively involved• 2 weeks, 8:00 to 12:45, Monday – Thursday• 3 field trips• 1 Engineering Fair

What The Students Experienced:• Guest Speakers from engineering firms & NASA

Langley

• Design & Build Activities

• Build Challenges

• Field Trips!

• Collaborated on web site – took pictures & video, put together descriptions or scripts

Engineering the Future 2009

Statistics for 09• 93 students entering grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,

10• 7 classroom teachers, 1 technology teacher• 3 community college professors• 2 business volunteers• 1 engineering student• 2 administrators actively involved• 1 week (4 or 5 days)• 1 field trip and 1 Engineering Fair (older grades

only)

Elementary Program

• Rising 3rd & 4th Graders• 3 teachers & 42 students• $80 “tuition” per student – 4 days• 8:00 am – 12:30 pm

Middle School Program

• Rising 5th & 6th Grade Students• $100 per student – 5 days • 8 am – 12:45 pm• 2 teachers – 28 students• 2 high school students as volunteers

Visit our Wiki

• http://engineeringthefuture.wikispaces.com/

Contact Us

• Anne Larrick • Science SOL Coordinator • Powhatan County Public Schools • 4135 Old Buckingham Road • Powhatan, VA 23139 • 804-598-5782 • anne.larrick@powhatan.k12.va.us

Contact Us

• Diane Leighty• Math SOL Coordinator • Powhatan County Public Schools • 4135 Old Buckingham Road • Powhatan, VA 23139 • 804-598-5782 • diane.leighty@powhatan.k12.va.us

Lesson Resources

http://pbskids.org/zoom/activities/build/ http://www.childrensengineering.org/technology/index.html

 http://www.teachengineering.com/index.php http://www.tryengineering.org/lesson.php http://pbskids.org/designsquad/index.html

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig/educator/act_index.html

http://www.msinnovation.info/ACEC/index.html

http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/