Texting Mitts Design Challenge (Grade 7)
Grade: Seven
Topic: Understanding Earth and space systems - Heat in the environment
Design Challenge:
Students will research the three forms of heat transfer, then design and fabricate a pair of texting mitts that control heat transfer by conduction, convection, and radiation. To be texting mitts, they must also have precision surfaces that allow the user to wear their mitts and text using their choice of a touch screen or a keyboard. Students will design a fair test to determine how well their mitts control the three forms of heat transfer.
OCTE 2012 – Elementary Conference Workshops
Tools:
- CSA approved safety glasses/goggles, one pair per person (parent volunteers included),
- a first aid kit (please see your Board's Health and Safety Regulations if one is being purchased for your classroom),
- one ruler per project,
- one sewing needle per project (projects can be individual or team - teacher's choice),
- one needle threader for every four projects,
- one thimble per project,
- 20 straight pins per project,
- one pair of fabric scissors for every four projects,
- one pincushion for every two projects,
- four instant read thermometers,
- access to a refrigerator, freezer, cooler with ice in it, etc., if the temperature outdoors is above 0O C.
Materials:
- four sheets of legal sized paper per team,
- thread (students supply their own),
- fabric that blocks wind, addresses heat loss by convection (students supply their own),
- material that insulates, addresses heat loss by conduction (students supply their own),
- material that is light coloured (white) or shiny, addresses heat loss by radiation (students supply their own),
- elastic, Velcro, snaps, or zippers to close cuff, also addresses heat loss by convection (students supply their own),
- precision surface for operating keyboard, (students supply/design their own).