Catching Up: Last week and this week

OK...So we've started on the rocket launcher last week and most students have finished. We'll get time to blog about it later (gulp). Since we missed a few days earlier this month (jan 6 and Jan 11 and Jan 18) we're behind schedule in what all I would like for the students to accomplish. We may not get the chance to do all the activities I had set out for the remaining agenda but we shall see.

This week is the first time this month we were able to meet up for twice a week.

On Jan 14, we built the compressed air rocket launcher. (see image) Although I provided very specific details and instructions, several of the students chose to build it "their way." We shall see if they work. There was one major accident - one student toppled over a can of PVC primer. Even though we placed a covering over the table, the primer seeped through and permanently scarred the table's surface. Several of the students did not apply PVC primer and glue correctly, and as a result, there devices are doomed to come apart (as I found out yesterday when testing a few). We'll solve this riddle on Wednesday, Jan 27.

On jan 20, the students built the switch that goes with the rocket launchers.


Again, even though i provided pictures and instructions, most chose to build it their way and ended up shorting out their batteries. To top it off, around 5:30 pm, Shreveport was placed under a Tornado warning so we (Cathy, Ashleigh, and I) had to move the youth downstairs into the Jones Room. thankfully no tornado came and coincidentally, several of the students were putting the final touches on their switches. It was an interesting moment for us. something to note: whenever the switches weren't wired correctly, or whenever there was a failure to wrap the wires in electrical tape, the whole box would grow incredibly hot.

On Monday, Jan 25 (which also happens to be the Mars Rover "Opportunity's" birthday), we worked on building their bases. The image below shows one of the students and her finished base.
Most of the students finished (a few need to do a bit of touch-up). At any rate, there was LOTS of grunting and old-fashioned elbow grease being put to use. I opted against using electric drills but I messed up because I didn't purchase enough screwdrivers. As a result, there was a bit of a waiting period from time to time, but also, the students worked together to complete the task. One drawback - one of the tables got scratched up. We may have to use different tables.

Today (jan 27) we'll focus on troubleshooting their launchers and switches. then, we'll take turns between going outside and doing a practice shoot and blogging. Depending on how much we get done, we'll have a contest today or Monday. We shall see.

Cheers,
Greg