The Mathematics of Design!

Today we build Gundam robots to experience first hand the importance of math in design. Math is used to determine sizes, engineer the way objects fit together, and visual diagrams are used to effectively communicate how a model should be built.

From the video on toy car design, we learned some of the specific mathematical challenges that designers encounter when attempting to create a model.

Here is a link to the video if you want to watch it again:

http://www.thefutureschannel.com/dockets/hands-on_math/designing_toy_cars/


Also, if you would like to watch another video on toy design, you can watch these two videos:

http://www.thefutureschannel.com/dockets/realworld/inventing_toys/

http://www.thefutureschannel.com/dockets/hands-on_math/designing_dolls/

Reminders:

** In class today you received a handout related to "scale". Don't forget to complete this handout for homework. You will need to get a measuring tape so that you can measure your Gundam to perform the calculations.

CHALLENGE PROBLEM:

*** Since the Thanksgiving Holiday is coming and some of you MIGHT have extra time, I am going to give you an extension activity. I am giving each of you an "eraser cube" -- which is actually a 3D puzzle made out of eraser pieces. The task is to create a visual "plan" for how to assemble the pieces into the cube (the same as the booklet of instructions that explaned to you how to create your robot).

Who will accept this challenge? Will you?? I HOPE SO!!!! Good luck!

If you do decide to accept this challenge, I want you to comment on this blog post, responding to the following questions:

What was hard or easy about this?
How did you develop a plan for taking it apart, putting it back together, explaning it with writing and visuals?
What was your strategy or process for completing this assignment?

AND EXTRA EXTRA OPTIONAL SUPER CHALLENGE!!!!

Ok -- if you are still bored out of your mind over the holidays, here is the last challenge... Find an object in your house (a toy or some other object) and ask your parents if you can take apart. Disassemble the object into its component pieces -- THEN (here's the fun part) create an instructional booklet (a plan) that explains to someone else how to reassemble the object. Then, test out your mathematical communication skills by giving the object pieces and instructions to someone in your family to see if they can, in fact, reassemble it! HAVE FUN (but DO NOT do this without your parents' permission first!!)