Project OverviewStars and constellations are one of the oldest tools for navigation. In this project, we had the opportunity to use constellations to navigate ourselves into “dream land.” We combined our understanding of electrical circuits, wood construction, technical writing, and astronomy to design and build our very own Constellation Night-light. We also finally had the chance to really show Mrs. Crump and our classmates what we are made of, as well as working individually throughout the project.
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Essential Questions |
• How can we use our knowledge of electrical circuits to create a functional night-light?
• How do engineers communicate their designs using detailed drawings and technical writing? • What is Celestial Navigation and how does it relate to exploration? |
Goals |
• Understand how to use the tools, materials, and electrical components to make a night-light.
• Effectively communicate instructions on how to construct our night-lights. • Learn how stars and constellations are related to exploration. • Create a beautiful, star-lit ambiance at our Winter Exhibition, which features your amazing rocket designs |
What I Learned |
In this project, we learned and reviewed circuits and electrical components. This composed of a battery, resistor and LED. We used this to shine light through our play ball to project an image. We also learned that in the process of making something that you have no directions to besides a prototype, you may need to make alterations specific to your project. Before constructing, we had to go through a test to make sure we knew how to use the tools correctly. This includes cutting with a chop saw and drilling holes with a drill press and and hand drill. Some students were done constructing before others, so in our free time, we made improvements like making our circuits more complete by soldering it together. Others sanded and painted their boxes.
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