Middle School

Back to School Night Presentation  

 

 Please bring the following supplies to class each day

•  headphones/earbuds
•  pencil

 

The Innovation and Design course in Warren School is a mandatory 30-day course in 6th grade. The course is a "Hands On - Minds ON" class designed to engage middle school students in higher order thinking skills. Students will learn subject matter content relating to their major problem-solving challenge or project, through concepts in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math or "S.T.E.M."
 

 Units Covered

•  Computer-Aided-Design
•  Structural Engineering

Major Projects: 

1) Earthquake Tower:
     As student engineers, the students work in collaborative groups to design and build a model structure out of balsa wood that will withstand the stress of a simulated earthquake.

2) 3D Modeling:
    As student architects, the students work independently to create a house using the Computer-Aided Design program, SketchUp.    They are "hired" to design a house that fits the criteria presented by a family of four. The students are challenged as they use their troubleshooting and technology skills to create a house design.

 

3) Crazy Contraptions:  As student engineers, the students work in collaborative groups to research and design a simple machine.  

Grading Policy

Grading will be based on a point system.

• Students will earn points based on the following types of assignments:  Projects, Chapter Tests, and additional assignments may be included.  

• A student's grade will be calculated by dividing the number of points earned in a cycle by the total number of possible points.  Example: If the total number of possible points in a cycle is 350 and a student has accumulated 322 points the grade would be 92%.

• All missed assignments should be completed as soon as possible. Any incomplete assignments will become a zero at the end of the cycle.

Engineering Design Process
Define the Need:  What is the problem?
                               What are the constraints?
                               What don't I know? RESEARCH!
Brainstorm:  Brainstorm Ideas
                      Choose the best idea to move forward with
Design:  Draw a diagram
              List materials
Construct a Model:  Build 
              
Test and Evaluate:  Does it work?

Communicate Ideas/Redesign:  Present your final product 
                                                       OR Go through the process

Student Safety Contract and Expectations 

This link will bring you to the safety contract for our Innovation and Design.  It describes the purpose of the contract, the classroom expectations, and our safety rules.  The students review this contract in class and sign it to indicate they understand.  

 Tardy to Class:  In cycle classes if a student is late more than 2 times they are issued a lunch reflection.  (Of course we do not count the first two days of a cycle so students can learn where the classroom is located.)

Late Assignments:  All work should be able to be completed during class time.  On occasion, a student may need additional time to finish an assignment and will need to complete for Homework.  If the assignment is not returned by the beginning of the next class period, it would be considered late. 
1 Day Late = 80%
More than one day date = 1/2 Credit