Curtis Rising Star Science Challenge

Engineering Journal

This engineering journal belongs to:

Name:

Orlando Science Center © 2018 - 2019

 Design a Scaffolding System

Goal: Design a scaffolding system.

Height:
My scaffolding system must be at least _________________ .
Strength:
My scaffolding system must support at least _____________ for 30
seconds.

My scaffolding system must be stable. This means…

________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________

The measurement of the book my scaffolding system must support is:

Length: ___________
Width: ___________

Orlando Science Center © 2018 - 2019 2

 Imagine
Imagine at least two solutions to the problem.

Plan
Work with your group to come up with a plan.
Draw the plan for your design below.

Orlando Science Center © 2018 - 2019

 Create
Here are the steps we followed to create our design:
1. _____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
3. _____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
4. _____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
5. _____________________________________________
_____________________________________________

Test 1

The perimeter of the top of our design is: _______________ .

Check off the criteria your group met. Record test data on your graph.
□ Our design is tall enough.
Our design height is: ______________ .
□ Our design is stable.
□ Our design can support the workers’ mass for 30 seconds.

The total mass our design can support is: ______________ .

Orlando Science Center © 2018 - 2019 4
 Improve
What will your team improve about your design? Why?
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________

Test 2
The perimeter of the top of our improved design is: ______________ .

Check off the criteria your group met for your improved design. Record
test data on your graph.
□ Our improved design is tall enough.
Our improved design height is: ______________ .
□ Our improved design is stable.
□ Our improved design can support the workers’ mass for 30
seconds.

The total mass our improved design can support is: ______________ .

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 Data Graph
Record the data from the first and second test below.

Height Height

Test 1 Test 1

Mass
supported Strength

Test 1 Test 1
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Reflect: Was your improved design more successful than your first
design? How do you know?
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________

How would you improve your design if there were time? Why?
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________

Orlando Science Center © 2018 - 2019 7

 Design a Roller Coaster

Goal: Design a roller coaster.

My scaffolding system must be safe. This means…

______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

My roller coaster must be fun. This means…

______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

Imagine
Imagine at least two solutions to the problem.

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 Plan
Work with your group to come up with a plan.
Draw the plan for your design below.

Create
Here are the steps we followed to create our design:
1. _____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
3. _____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
4. _____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
5. _____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
Orlando Science Center © 2018 - 2019 9
 Test 1

The length of our roller coaster track is: _______________ .

The length of time the car was on the track is _____________.
_______________ = _______________ ÷ _________________
Speed Distance Time

Check off the criteria your group met. Record test data on your graph.
□ Our design is safe.
□ Our roller coaster is the fastest design.

Improve
What will your team improve about your design? Why?
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________

Orlando Science Center © 2018 - 2019 10

 Test 2

The length of our roller coaster track is: _______________ .

The length of time the car was on the track is _____________.
_______________ = _______________ ÷ _________________
Speed Distance Time

Check off the criteria your group met. Record test data on your graph.
□ Our design is safe.
□ Our roller coaster is the fastest design.
Data Graph
Record the data from the first and second test below.

Speed

Test 1 Test 1

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Reflect: Was your improved design more successful than your first
design? How do you know?
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________

How would you improve your design if there were time? Why?
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________

Orlando Science Center © 2018 - 2019 12

 Design Play Dough

Goal: Design a recipe which will produce high-quality play

dough.

Play Dough Quality

High Quality Medium Quality Low Quality
3 2 1

Imagine
List the properties of each material:
 Flour: _______________________________________
 Salt: _______________________________________
 Water: _______________________________________
 Cream of Tartar: _________________________________
 Oil: _______________________________________
What do you think went wrong with the low-quality play dough? Why?
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Orlando Science Center © 2018 - 2019 13
 Plan
Work with your group to come up with a plan.
Write the steps of your recipe.
 When adding materials, record how many full or ½ tablespoons you
will add.
 When stirring or kneading, record how many seconds you will do so
for.
1. _____________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________
3. _____________________________________________
4. _____________________________________________
5. _____________________________________________
6. _____________________________________________
7. _____________________________________________
8. _____________________________________________
9. _____________________________________________
10. _____________________________________________

Test 1
Properties of our play dough:
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Play dough rating: ____________________________________

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 Improve
What will your team improve about your design? Why?
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________

Test 2

Properties of our play dough:

________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Play dough rating: ____________________________________

What fraction of your play dough was made up of each material?

 Flour: ___

 Salt: ___

 Water: ___

 Cream of Tartar: ___

 Oil: ___
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Reflect: Was your improved design more successful than your first
design? How do you know?
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________

How would you improve your design if there were time? Why?
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________

Orlando Science Center © 2018 - 2019 16

 Water Runoff Reduction System

Goal: Design a system which will reduce water runoff from an

urban landscape into a nearby lake.

Original lake level: ___ cm

Create a system which will reduce water runoff in an urban landscape to

less than ___ cm.

Imagine
Imagine at least two solutions to the problem.

Orlando Science Center © 2018 - 2019 17

 Plan
Work with your group to come up with a plan.
Draw the plan for your design below and calculate your budget.

Budget: $_____________
Material Unit cost Quantity Extended
Cost
Aluminum foil
(per sq. in.) $ $
Felt (per sq. in.) $ $
Rock $ $
Duct tape (per
in.) $ $
Sponge $ $
Craft stick $ $
Sand (per tbsp.) $ $
Total Cost: $
Orlando Science Center © 2018 - 2019 18
 Create
Here are the steps we followed to create our design:
1. _____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
3. _____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
4. _____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
5. _____________________________________________
_____________________________________________

Test 1
Water level after rain: ______ cm
Did you meet the criteria? Why or why not?
________________________________________________

Improve
What will your team improve about your design? Why?
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________

Orlando Science Center © 2018 - 2019 19

 Test 2
Water level after rain: ______ cm
Did you meet the criteria? Why or why not?
________________________________________________

Data Graph
Record the data from the first and second test below.

Water Water level

level
cm

Test 1 Test 1

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Reflect: Was your improved design more successful than your first
design? How do you know?
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________

How would you improve your design if there were time? Why?
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________

Orlando Science Center © 2018 - 2019 21

 Create a Zip Line

Goal: Design a container which can transport a company’s

products using a zip line to a town on the other side of a
protected forest.

Distance: ______

The container must deliver the payload into the destination without
dropping on the ground.

Imagine
Imagine at least two solutions to the problem.

Orlando Science Center © 2018 - 2019 22

 Plan
Work with your group to come up with a plan.
Draw the plan for your design below and calculate your budget.

Check off the 5 materials your group will use. You may select an item
multiple times.
□ Small paper cup □ Plastic cup
□ Large paper cup □ Paper
□ Index card □ Yarn, 12 in.
□ Wax paper, 12 in. x 12 in. □ Aluminum foil 12 in. x 12 in.
□ Paper clip □ Masking tape, 12 in.

Orlando Science Center © 2018 - 2019 23

 Create
Here are the steps we followed to create our design:
1. _____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
3. _____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
4. _____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
5. _____________________________________________
_____________________________________________

Test 1

Check off the criteria your group met. Record test data on your graph.
□ Our design is stable. The payload did not drop onto the ground.
□ Our design traveled far enough.
The distance our container traveled is: _______________ .
□ Our design delivered the payload successfully to the destination.

The total payloads our design can transport is: ______________ .

Orlando Science Center © 2018 - 2019 24

 Improve
What will your team improve about your design? Why?
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________

Test 2
Check off the criteria your group met. Record test data on your graph.
□ Our design is stable. The payload did not drop onto the ground.
□ Our design traveled far enough.
The distance our container traveled is: _______________ .
□ Our design delivered the payload successfully to the destination.

The total payloads our design can transport is: ______________ .

Distance Number Line

Create a number line below which shows the distance your design
traveled in each test.

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Reflect: Was your improved design more successful than your first
design? How do you know?
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________

How would you improve your design if there were time? Why?
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________

Orlando Science Center © 2018 - 2019 26

 Design a Paper-Copter

Goal: Design a paper-copter which will drop slowly to the

ground.

Drop Height:
The paper-copter will be dropped from a height
of_________________.
Mass:
My paper-copter will carry a load of 5 grams.

My paper-copter blades will create drag. This means…

________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________

Orlando Science Center © 2018 - 2019 27

 Imagine
Blade Size Test:
Size Small Large
Perimeter: Perimeter:
Area: Area:
Seconds to Fall

Which size blade was more successful? Why?

________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________

Mass Test:
Additional Mass 0 grams 3 grams
Seconds to Fall

Which mass was more successful? Why?

________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________

Orlando Science Center © 2018 - 2019 28

 Plan
Work with your group to come up with a plan.
Draw the plan for your design below.

Create
Here are the steps we followed to create our design:
1. _____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
3. _____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
4. _____________________________________________
_____________________________________________

Orlando Science Center © 2018 - 2019 29

 5. _____________________________________________
_____________________________________________

Test 1

Blade perimeter: _______________

Blade area: ______________

How long did your first design take to fall? _________ seconds

Improve
What will your team improve about your design? Why?
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________

Test 2
Blade perimeter: _______________
Blade area: ______________

How long did your improved design take to fall? _________ seconds

Orlando Science Center © 2018 - 2019 30

Data Graph
Record the data from the first and second test below.

Seconds

Test 1 Test 2

Reflect: Was your improved design more successful than your first
design? How do you know?
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________

Orlando Science Center © 2018 - 2019 31

How would you improve your design if there were time? Why?
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________

Orlando Science Center © 2018 - 2019 32

 Design a Telephone

Goal: Design a telephone which will transfer sound clearly.

The sound must transfer ______ ft.

The telephone must transfer _____ words.

Imagine
Draw two ideas below.

Orlando Science Center © 2018 - 2019 33

 Plan
Work with your group to come up with a plan.
Draw the plan for your design below.

Create
Here are the steps we followed to create our design:
1. _____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
3. _____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
4. _____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
5. _____________________________________________
_____________________________________________

Orlando Science Center © 2018 - 2019 34

 Test 1

Words heard clearly: _________

Scored: __ out of 10 words = ____%

Improve
What will your team improve about your design? Why?
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________

Test 2
Words heard clearly: _________
Scored: __ out of 10 words = ____%

Orlando Science Center © 2018 - 2019 35

Reflect: Was your improved design more successful than your first
design? How do you know?
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________

How would you improve your design if there were time? Why?
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________

Orlando Science Center © 2018 - 2019 36