Seventh grade Art Tech students have used the basic tools of Tinkercad computer-aided design (CAD) software to make virtual 3D models of historically important architectural structures. Photos of this work are being used to illustrate US History research papers in Mr. Thomas’s class.
Some of our 8th grade Art Tech students have been building rubber band-powered Styrofoam and wood boats. Students used hacksaw blades to cut the wood and Styrofoam. They used hot-glue guns to connect wood pieces. Hot glue was not allowed to be used on the Styrofoam. Tape reinforced the wooden joints and secured the wood to the Styrofoam. Various structural design issues had to be considered as students engineered their boats for racing. When students started testing their boats in water, they often made adjustments to decrease drag, strengthen the Styrofoam hull or wood frame, and allow more clearance for their propellers. They also had to determine the best number of rubber bands and the best band tension to give the right mix of torque and speed for traveling quickly to the other end of the tank. Students’ boats were limited to a 10-inch length and 5-inch width.
