Learning & Teaching 3/4GR

A Snapshot of Learning in 3/4GR

This term we have been focussing on Design and Technology. We have investigated forces, in particular friction, in our Science unit in Term 3 which helped us to explore the type of materials and joining techniques used to make a chariot. We took on a challenge to design and produce a robot racing chariot and program a Sphero robot to compete in a robot race over 1 metre. Here are some comments from some class members.

Celeste: The wheels  are not the best thing on the robot chariot but the results of the wheels in the race were pretty good because they did not fall off. The thing that worked well in my team was that we were sharing sphero and putting good comments on each other's work.

Gabby: The skewer, bottle caps and blue tack all stuck very well together and made the shape I hoped for. My team gave me great feedback and we all work together.

Giacomo: I could improve it by making the chariot smaller because if it is big it stops more air which makes friction. If it is smaller it stops less air which makes less friction.

Jessica: The most difficult part of building the chariot was making sure the wheels would move properly and putting the skewer in the holes. The hardest part of the racing was to make sure to have the chariot go in the right angle because the race only required us to move in the chariot forward. 

Liana: I think the skewers worked best because they were very stable. I think the most challenging part was programming it because you had to get everything correct so it would go forward and fast.

Liesel: The most challenging part of this process was actually designing my chariot, not making it because I had to think about what would work very well, and what wouldn’t work as well. I had to think about what speed it would go for, and what weight it can carry. 

Madeline: The most challenging part of the activity was when I was putting the wheels on because it kept slouching down after I was lifting it up. The size of the wheels were better than the last ones.

Matthew: The material that worked best was the wheels because it didn’t fidget and kept the chariot stable at all times. The size of the wheels worked perfectly for the chariot because they wouldn’t move sideways but moved forward and worked very efficiently.

Max: Our team worked well because every one encouraged each other and we were all helping each other and it went well.

Paige: It was really fun to make and build and race with other teams. I liked my team because we were taking turns and being kind to each other.

Siena: What worked well were the wheels because sticking them with the blue tack worked. What didn't work well was the scissors because when I cut there was no room to fit.