Sunday, January 29, 2017

Friolio students are awarded Gold Keys

I am fortunate to work with so many creative and talent students every year.   This year is no different and I would like to congratulate Lidia V. and Cecilia L. and celebrate their talents.  Both students were awarded Gold Keys at this year's Scholastic Art and Writing Awards.  The winning entries, both self portrait drawings, are displayed below.  Awesome work, I am proud of you.


Lidia V. - Chalk Pastel on Paper

Cecilia L. - Graphite on Paper

Friday, January 20, 2017

Egg Car Project Due - January 23 (Day 1-3) and January 26 (Days 4-6)

Below are the instructions for the Egg Carr Project in case you have lost the one I provided in class.



CTD Class – Transportation Technology: Engineering Safer Automobiles

“The Egg Car” Project is due on __________

Background: We can all agree that automobiles have forever changed our lives.  However, with all of the many benefits and conveniences there are some negative impacts.  First on the list would be safety for the occupants during crashes.  Since cars can travel at great speeds the need to design and build safe vehicles is a crucial task for engineers.  Today’s automobiles are safer than ever due to improvement to seat belts, air bags and state of the art chassis.

For this homework assignment you will explore automobile safety engineering by designing and building a vehicle capable of keeping your passenger (one raw egg) safe during a crash.  Put on your thinking caps and start designing.

Objective: Design and build a vehicle capable of transporting and protecting one raw egg during three impacts with a concrete barrier.

Specifications and Constraints for building the vehicle:

  • You may use any material to build your vehicle except foam, Styrofoam and/or bubble wrap.  Milk cartons, juice bottles and small boxes make great car chassis.  I will provide wheels and axles.
  • You will receive extra points for vehicles built out of materials that would get thrown away or can be recycled.
  • The vehicle must roll freely down the ramp.  No braking devices.
  • The vehicle should not exceed 22 inches in length and 12 inches in width.
  • You may add a bumper, but no foam bumpers please.  Creating a unique bumper can earn you points.
  • You may use tape, glue, nails, hot glue guns, screws or any other fastening device to assemble the vehicle.
  • I will supply the egg on test day.  Try and see if you can make part of the egg visible from the outside of the car.

Specifications and constraints for protecting the egg. 

These are the only materials you are allowed to use that can touch or protect the egg.  The challenge is to use only these materials to protect the egg.  Combining the materials is allowed.            

  • Straws
  • Rubber Bands (any size)
  • Paper (however, no tissue paper or paper towels) and/or cardboard

Evaluation/Grading – A rubric will be used to assess the five areas below:

  • Creative problem solving (Is your vehicle creative and unique?)                                
  • Up to 40 points
  • Construction (Is everything put together well?  Does it roll down the ramp)        
  • Up to 25 points
  • Egg Safety (Did your egg survive all three test runs?)                                                      
  •  Up to 15 points
  • Completed self-assessment sheet turned in on time                                                     
  •  Up to 10 points
  • Use of throw away or recyclable material throughout the vehicle.                        
  • Up to 10 points