Interactive & Structural Engineering - Week 2

For the second week we explored the engineering concepts concerned with water filtration system, wind turbines, the immune system, and human error.

We made water filtration systems and explored the 5 steps to filtering water. We designed a system out of sand, rocks, coffee filters, cotton balls, and fabric. We tested these filters by using water with dirt, sticks, leaves, and food coloring. We discussed the difference between bottled water and tap water, and we talked about water filtration around the world. We watched a video about a new innovative idea to provide clean water to developing countries called an Aquaduct: Mobile Filtration Vehicle.

We learned about wind turbines and explored how energy is turned from kinetic into mechanical. We talked in depth about the components inside the wind turbine that converts the energy. We also discussed the different types of wind turbines and how they effect the environment. We made anemometers, which are similar to wind turbines. Anemometers measure the speed of the wind. We tested our anemometers outside and in front of a fan.

We played a computer game about our immune system. We learned how our body's immune cells battle bacteria and viruses with different proteins that find and destroy anything foreign or dangerous entering our body. We briefly explored other games on the Nobel Prize website, where many of the educational games we played in the class are on.

We discussed engineering projects gone wrong by human errors. We watched videos of buildings and road ways that were not designed correctly due to a calculation error or misunderstanding between workers. We talked about how scary these problems are, but how they really can occur.

The last day we played "Who Wants to Make a Deal to be Smarter Than a 5th Grader Millionaire?", a game that is a combination of game shows. We tested our engineering knowledge and won prizes!