Paper Airplane Design Challenge

The second project of third quarter Math Literacy was the Paper Airplane Design Challenge.  Using materials from a generic engineering design challenge, students quickly began designing their own planes or researching online for simple to challenging plane designs.  Students had to build their paper airplane within specific constraints and their designs had to perform in a distance competition.  Students had to share their design process, designs, and competition results with their peers as a culminating presentation.  Students also kept an engineering notebook to record their process.  A few students also submitted a how-to guide or video separate from their engineering notebook.

Thank you to the National Museum of World War II Aviation for donating FREE passes to the top two teams!

Paper Airplane Design Challenge 2015 Rubric
Exemplar Presentation

Mini-Golf Hole Design Winners

After sending out a survey to parents, students, and educators the votes are in for the winners of the Mini-Golf Hole Design project in Math Literacy.  Students who won the design challenge will receive a trip to a local mini-golf place upon returning from winter break.

Thank you to Adventure Miniature Golf for donating FREE miniature golf games to the top three teams!

The Regulators - ADA Ramp Codes

Sketch Artists creating a visual of the ramp

Students in my Math Literacy class reviewed ADA ramp codes and assessed the ramp used for the two portable classrooms behind the school.  Students were put into groups of four, each with a team role and ADA ramp code sheet to use as a reference:

• Sketch Artist
• Responsible for creating a side sketch
• Must label appropriate units for each dimension
• Measurement Artist
• Responsible for using a yard stick to measure multiple dimensions of the ramp to the nearest inch
• Code Regulator
• Advises team on the code for "Slope & Rise"
• Advises team on the code for "Clear Width"
• Advises team on the code for "Landings" 
• Report Manager
• Responsible for writing a report to determine if the ramp is up-to-code using measurements as proof
• Shares any additional recommendations from the team

After collecting measurements and sketching multiple dimensions of the ramp, students headed back to class to write up their report.

Example of a report