Rationale for Regina Vermina Rolling Vehicles Company

Context:

Regina Vermina Rolling Vehicles Company is a project that I completed in partial fulfillment of my science methods course in the spring of 2006 for Dr. Goodman.  Dr. Goodman paired me with a classmate and gave us the task of devising a vehicle for worms using nothing but stock paper, CDs, dowel rods, and a glue gun.  My partner and I first designed our car in our science journals and then built the car using the materials provided.  Once the car was built, we then put our worm vehicle through test trials on a ramp to see how far our car would go and to see how fast our car was.  Using background knowledge about energy, we then composed a report for Regina Vernima trying to convince her to purchase our design.  The report included how we built the car, test results, bar graphs, and an explanation of the science behind the car, which is potential energy.

Impact:

I will be able to use this same project with students allowing them to further explore the concept of energy and energy transformations.  The students would be required to design the car, putting their measuring and critical thinking skills to use.  The students will use their knowledge about potential and kinetic energy to explain how and why the car works and to test the cars.  While writing up their proposal students will also be putting their technology skills to use using word processor and spread sheet.

Alignment:

Standard 3, indicator 2.  I met this indicator by including my knowledge of energy and how energy changes forms within the proposal.  I also had to understand the forces of motion in order to design a vehicle which would be fast and travel the distance.