I'm Really Excited!!

The end of the year is coming up fast--but there is still a lot to learn!!

No homework for today except----

1. Get a good night's sleep
2. Eat breakfast tomorrow

MCA Science testing is tomorrow be ready and prepared to do your best!

There are several assignments due on Monday:
Reading: Finish reading the novel "Walk Two Moons"
Math: Chapter 6 pre-test p. 292-295 (1-44)


Also, we have been talking about simple machines and there is a project due next Wednesday. Here are all the directions:

Simple Machines Project
Grade 5
May 2009

Simple machines are EVERYWHERE!!! Now that we have learned a bit about the different kinds of simple machines and how they work, you are going to put what you know into action. You may choose to do one of the following projects. You need to think about your strengths as a student and choose the project that you feel you will do the best on. All projects will require a presentation and a report. Each project is worth 100 points and will be a large part of your science grade for the quarter. The due dates and work times will be listed below. I am excited to see what you can come up with—be creative! You are scientists!

Schedule for Simple Machines Project

Thursday, May 14 Introduction to Simple Machines Project
Friday, May 15 Project Ideas due and Work Day

WORK AT HOME OVER THE WEEKEND

Monday, May 18 Work at Home
Tuesday, May 19 work time at school, work at home
Wed., May 20 Projects Due/ Presentations
Thursday, May 21 Finish Presentations








Project #1: Report and Presentation

For this project you will need to research one or two simple machines and give a presentation to the class. You will be responsible for writing a complete report that includes the following parts:
Report:
Cover
Table of Contents
Information:
When was this machine invented?
Who invented it?
How does the machine work?
Where can you find these simple machines in our everyday lives?
What are some examples of these simple machines and how do they work?
What has the machine been used for in the past?
Bibliography

Your report should have at least three sources of where you get your information and you should include this in a bibliography at the end of your report.

Presentation: You need to come up with a presentation that is 3-5 minutes long to tell the class what you have learned about in your study of the simple machines. You can make a PowerPoint presentation, a poster presentation, use the overhead, create a song and perform it—be creative. You need to tell the class everything that you had found out about the machines. You will be graded on the presentation and report as follows:

Report:

Cover __________/ 5
Table of Contents __________/ 5
Information __________/30
Bibliography __________/5
Neatness/Grammar __________/5

Presentation
Information presented is correct and logical __________/ 25
Creative __________/ 15
Organized __________/ 10


Total __________/ 100 points

Project #2: Create a “Rube Goldberg” Machine

Rube Goldberg was an artist who made cartoons of simple machines put together to do a common task. If you choose this project you will be responsible for creating a “cartoon” design of a “Rube Goldberg” type machine and actually build it for a presentation.

The requirement of this project is to construct an 8 step (or greater) machine to do a common household task. You must use a minimum of four simple machines in your task. You will be graded on the following parts:

Plan: ______________30 points

You need to create a plan on paper that shows exactly what you are trying to accomplish. See the cartoon below for an example. It doesn’t necessarily need to be a “cartoon” but just a blueprint of what exactly you will build or construct.



Rube Goldberg gets his think-tank working and evolves the simplified pencil-sharpener.
Open window (A) and fly kite (B). String (C) lifts small door (D) allowing moths (E) to escape and eat red flannel shirt (F). As weight of shirt becomes less, shoe (G) steps on switch (H) which heats electric iron (I) and burns hole in pants (J). Smoke (K) enters hole in tree (L), smoking out opossum (M) which jumps into basket (N), pulling rope (O) and lifting cage (P), allowing woodpecker (Q) to chew wood from pencil (R), exposing lead. Emergency knife (S) is always handy in case opossum or the woodpecker gets sick and can't work.

Construction/Demonstration: ______________70 points
You will need to construct your design and make it work to create the task that you are trying to accomplish. This can be done one of two ways. You may create the machine at home and record with a video camera your machine and how it works and then bring the tape to school so we can watch it working, or you may actually bring your parts to school and set it up here for the demonstration. While you are presenting, be prepared to show what the simple machines are and what types. Be ready to explain the steps of your process.
Total ___________________/100 points
Project #3: Become and Engineer!

Do you have ideas for your own gadgets? See if you can use the concept of simple machines to invent something new. Think about problems that you have around the house doing something. Can you design a machine to do it for you?

For this project you will need to do three things:

Plan _________________20

Create a blueprint of your gadget. You should show what your invention will look like and identify the simple machines that will be used to build it. This will communicate your idea and help you to build it.


Create a prototype _________________70

Create your gadget. Try to use as many things around the house as you can or recyclable materials. You should bring it to class with you on the day of your presentation and be ready to show the class how it works. It should be working!!

Presentation _________________10

Show the class what you have invented and what it will be used for. Explain how you got your idea and who would use it.



Total Points __________________/100

It will be exciting to see what they come up with!!

Have a great night!
Mrs. E.