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**Title and Author**

The World Series of Mechanisms

High School Level
Technology Education

Name: Sherry Roses
School: Howell High School
District: Freehold Regional High School
County: Monmouth
**Objectives** **Standard**

The student will:

  1. Understand and apply the elements of the problem solving design loop to design a solution to the challenge assigned.
  2. Brainstorm and generate multiple solutions to a technological problem.
  3. Analyze and compare the solutions presented in order to select the one that best solves the design brief.
  4. Construct and test a working model and a prototype of design solutions using tools and other resources.
  5. Apply appropriate safety rules when using equipment to solve a design challenge.
  6. Record and store all information and data for each technology learning activity in a paper journal.
  7. Experiment with various materials in order to understand the strength of various materials.
  8. Apply math and science concepts in computing and understanding the concepts of mechanical advantage, velocity ratio, levers, and gear ratios.
  9. Incorporate 4 mechanical elements or simple machines into their final design solution.
  10. Recognize the historical significance of mechanisms and machines.
Content Area Standard Grade Strand CPI
Technological Literacy 8.2 12 B 3,4,5,6
Technology
Education
   12 A
 3
Science 5.4 12 C
 1
Language Arts Literacy 3.1 12 H 1,3
Language Arts Literacy 3.2
 12
 A
B
C
1,4
4
1
Language Arts Literacy 3.4 12 B 1
Math 4.1 12 B
C 		1
1
Math 4.2 5
12 		D
D 		4
1,2
Math 4.4 12 A 3,5


National Standards for Technological Literacy
Standard 1: The Nature of Technology - Students will develop an understanding of the characteristics and scope of technology.
Standard 6: Technology & Society - Students will develop an understanding of the role of society in the development and use of technology.
Standard 9: Design: Students will develop an understanding of engineering and design.
Standard 10: Design: Students will develop an understanding of the role of research and development, invention and innovation, and experimentation in problem solving.
Standard 11: Abilities for a Technological World - Students will develop the abilities to apply the design process.
**Goal/Overview/Purpose/Summary**

Mechanisms and mechanical systems can be found in many products and devices. Mechanisms help extend human capability by creating some desired output motion or force. This unit will introduce mechanical concepts, including basic calculations used to describe how a system will function. Throughout history, people have used mechanisms to help solve technological problems. Mechanisms play an important role in shaping our technological society. In addition, this unit will reinforce the concepts of the problem solving design loop.

Activities to Achieve the Objectives:

Please note: Activities highlighted in red are HSPA skills.

  1. Students will follow a teacher PowerPoint that provides an introduction to mechanisms.
  2. The teacher will provide a demonstration on the safe use of the drill press.
  3. The student will pass a written safety test on the drill press with 100% accuracy.
  4. Students will watch a teacher demonstration on the safe use of various cutting hand tools including the coping saw and X-Acto miter box.
  5. Students will individually design and construct a mechanical baseball player that can hit a ping-pong ball off a "T" to score points. The design must incorporate at least three mechanical elements (lever & crank, wheel & gears, the cam, the screw, things that transmit tension or compression and things that transmit intermittent motion).
  6. Students will brainstorm ideas and develop thumbnail sketches of at least 4 different alternate solutions to the design challenge.
  7. Students will be required to submit an analysis of the 4 designs before choosing a single player to design.
  8. Students will follow through with their design challenge utilizing the design loop. Notes will be taken in their journals as to what modifications were made during the pre-testing.
  9. The student team will test the solution and record all points scored during the "World Series of Mechanisms" on a data sheet. Math skills and a calculator will be utilized to calculate the batting averages of all players. (HSPA skills.)
  10. Each student will complete a written self-evaluation form after completing the "World Series of Mechanisms" Technology Learning Activity (TLA) full sentence structure and grammar will be stressed (HSPA).
  11. Students will organize their paper journals according to the check sheet provided for 50 points of their first marking period grade. (A paper and electronic journal must be kept by each student.)

**Activity**

The World Series of Mechanisms - Technology Learning Activity (TLA) #2
A TLA incorporating simple machines and mechanisms
By Sherry Roses

BACKGROUND:
The World Series is between the American League Champions INFO and the National League Champions. The team that wins the best of 3 series will be declared the new World Champions of Mechanisms. Each of you are players in the series, and it will be up to you to contribute to your team by being the best batter you can be by designing an effective player.

DESIGN BRIEF:
To design and construct a baseball player that can hit a baseball (ping pong ball) as far as possible to score points incorporating at least 3 of the 6 simple machines in your design.

MATERIALS:
Consumable materials that can be used in the construction of your player
2 - 3.5 oz. plastic bathroom cups
1 - 9/16" steel staple
1 - clothespin-spring loaded type
2 - paper clips (1 large, 1 small)
2 - brass plated paper fasteners
2 - rubber bands of your choice
1 - steel t-pin
6 - skill sticks
3 - tongue depressors
3" weather stripping tape
6" piece of conduit tape
1 - safety pin
1 - pipe cleaner
1 - 12" piece of string
1 - 2" X 2" piece of foam core board
1 - sewing bobbin
1 - piece of your choice from the scrap wood bag
1 - screw
1 - metal spring
1 - piece of masonite 4" X 4"
hot glue
Elmer's white glue

EQUIPMENT:
Not to be used in the construction:
Cool melt glue gun
X-Acto knife and cutting mat
steel ruler
baseball ping pong ball
2 "stadiums" the size of the octagonal work tables
scissors
pliers
drill press
coping saw

DESIGN:

  1. You will be divided into 2 teams, (American League Champions and the National League Champions)
  2. Each student on the team will be responsible for designing and building one player for his/her team. You may only use the materials and equipment provided to you. You DO NOT have to use all the materials.
    Note: The class is divided in half no matter what the size. I have had classes of 20 to 24 and just divided them in half.
  3. The bags provided for you to hold your materials may not be used in construction.
  4. You will be required to submit 4 thumbnail sketches as well as 1 final, annotated color rough sketch of your player.
  5. Your player may be colored, but your name and number must be identified somewhere on the player. Use team colors when decided.
  6. Each player not utilizing at least 3 simple machines will be put on the disabled list and not be eligible to play and score for your team.
  7. The bat must be made from the materials given to you. It can be a part of your player or a separate entity.
  8. The player cannot be moved by hand to swing the bat. You must use one of the six simple machines to operate your player (i.e. a lever, pulley etc.)
  9. Your player's feet (base) must fit in the batters box. Failure to fit in the batters box will place you on the disabled list and ineligible to play for your team. The batter's box is 3" X 3". The player can extend beyond the batter's box provided that no other parts touch the ground. You may tape your player down at each up to bat.
  10. The ball will be hit off of a tee 2" high. If you knock the tee over during a hit, it will count as a strike. Foul balls will count as a strike. You cannot be called out on foul balls. Three strikes and you will be called out.

 

MAY THE BEST TEAM WIN! The only way to fail is if you fail to try!


**Assessment**

(must "match" objectives!; include rubric if possible)

Assessment of Student Achievement on Objectives

  1. Each assignment will be weighted and assigned a possible point value. Students will earn grades based on effort and quality of assignments completed.
    " Annotated color rough sketch = 15 points. Data score sheet = 25 points. Self-evaluation sheet = 10 points.
  2. Writing assignments will be evaluated on correct sentence structure, spelling, and content.
  3. Students earn a class participation grade based on their time management skills, planning and implementation schedule, and work ethic as well as their cooperative effort in group activities.
  4. Students will individually complete a self-evaluation.
  5. Paper journals will be evaluated on the criteria of completeness, neatness and organization (50 pts). Student will record and document the results of each teams solution to TLA #2. They will also use a calculator to calculate their own and each player's batting average. (HSPA skills.)

TESTING & ASSESSMENT OF PROJECT

You will be required to score all the innings and games by recording each player up at bat. This data sheet will be analyzed and used as the testing section of the design loop. A self-evaluation will also be completed at the end.
Points will be earned as follows: Infield hit = 1 run, outfield hit = 2 runs, homerun off the table = 3 runs. The scores counts wherever the ball first bounces. If you are called out, you will not earn any points for your team.

  • You will be called out if your ball lands in one of the 5 ounce plastic cups placed in the field to represent players.
  • Each game will consist of each player hitting the ball at least once. If there are 3 outs earned after each player bats once, the game will be over. (The game will be played until 3 outs are earned.)
  • The three game series will be played as follows: Game one will be played at _________________________ Stadium, Game 2 will be at ________________ Stadium, and Game 3 will be at ______________________Stadium.

Your project grade will be evaluated at through your average (AVG). .300 or above = 50 points. .200 to .299 average = 42 points. Below .200 = 35 points. DL = 0 points. You will also be graded on the following: Thumbnail sketches = 10 points.

**Additional Info**

Try to run this activity in conjunction with the actual World Series in the fall.

You will need to construct 2 playing fields. No two MLB stadiums are exactly alike. If you conduct an image search on images.google.com, you should be able to type in the name of the park and get a top view fairly quickly. Use an LCD projector to enlarge and trace the stadium shape including the baselines and pitcher's mound. Keep both parks in proportion to each other. I use two 6' in diameter round tables. When you are ready to "play the series", be sure to purchase some 5 ounce plastic cups. These will serve as players in the outfield. The team in the field gets to tape down the players into position for that inning. I only allow the players in the field to move each inning, not each batter.

Another important testing device that must be constructed is the "T" that hold the baseball (ping pong ball with laces). I use a piece of foam core board shaped like home plate as the base. From the local dollar store, I purchased a bag that had a plastic dart gun and suction cup darts. The rubber darts are perfect if you cut off the top and invert it into the foam core board. The suction cup faces up and serves as a great "T".

Another quick tip is to have students number their players according to the official roster so as not to get anyone player confused with another. Modify suggested materials for what you have on hand. If you have time, download and burn a copy of the "Star Spangled Banner" and "Take Me Out to the Ball Game". Announce the players and their positions. Encourage teamwork and cooperation within the spirit of competition. See the baseball coach in your school for a copy of a real scorecard. Make copies and have student record the results of each inning. The students will love this highly motivational activity and so will you.

E-mail any questions to howellweb@frhsd.com.