February 6, 2014: Final Meeting of the School Year
Objectives: To discuss the competition, clean up, complete a survey, look forward to next year.
Activator: Future City Wrap-up/Survey
Wrap-up for Ms. Collins: On the top of a piece of paper write Future City Wrap-up. Then create two columns: one labeled: "things that I liked", and the other labeled "things that I would change." Your name is optional. (Please be honest so that I can improve the club for next year.)
Mini Lesson: Future City Competition results/feedback/discussion. Where are the models? We usually display the models in school. Discuss next year Discuss online bridge contest.
Objectives: To present your cities. To listen to the presentations. To ask practice questions.
Activator: Write down a question that you would like to ask the presenters about their city?
Quick Notes: 1. Next week, January 30th, will be the last Future City meeting of the year. 2. Next week, we will return any unused materials to their proper places (junk trunk, drawers, trash...) 3. Starting in February, students who are interested may come in to learn about and work on the Online Bridge Contest on Thursday afternoons (until 2:50). 4. Presenting Team Models will go on display. All other models must go home or be dismantled.
Paperwork for attendees and presenters: 1. Media Waiver form (all attendees) 2. Honor Code Form (one for each presenting team) 3. Budget forms (one for each presenting team.)
Planning 1. Who is bringing you and your model and materials to the competition? 2. When are they going to pick up your model? 3. All presenters should plan on arriving no later than 9:00 am.
Presentations and Questions (15 minutes/team)
Please be a respectful audience.
Team One Team Two Team Three
3:15 Wrap-up: Make sure you have all your forms and a plan for bringing in your city. _______________________________________________________________________________
January 16, 2014
Objectives: To prepare models, presentation, and visual aids for the competition which is in 9 days!
Activator: What can you do to ensure that every team member is on task today?
Mini Lesson:
1. Read details of the competition. (Note: I am available next week during Tuesday, Thursday and Friday tutorial if you need more time to work on your cities. Make sure that you are caught up on school work so that you are able to attend - grades close next week.)
1. One person from each group should use the rubric to grade the model (that way you can see where you could improve/modify your model.)
2. One student from each group will take responsibility for filling in the Honor Code Form.
3. One student from each group will take responsibility for filling in the Competition Expense Form.
4. Work on model.
5. Work on presentation.
Wrap-up: All students planning to attend the competition must take home Media Waiver form(p. 49) and Event Info. (Please bring back the form but keep the event info.)
Objectives: To upload SimCity information. To focus on the essay and learn about the narrative.
Acrivator: Who is planning to attend the competition?
Mini Lesson/Student Engagement:
1st: discuss the Narrative, and hand out narrative forms to groups (SimCity kids should keep working on their virtual cities.) This is due by January 2nd - rough drafts should be submitted next week.
2nd: Essay consultations with writers This is due next Thursday!!! (everyone else work on model and sim)
Objectives: To work on your models, SimCities, and Essays. To report on your progress at the end of class.
Activator: One person from each group: Report on the status of your SimCity.
Mini Lesson: Led by Dan: One person from each group will meet to ask questions, share ideas and strategies about SimCity.
Student Engagement: Work on SimCity, Model and Essays. Ms. Collins will check in with groups.
Students may paint at the front table again today.
Deadlines: December 5, SimCity is due (in two weeks - no Future City meeting next week due to Thanksgiving.) December 20, Essay is due? December 20, Abstract is due? January 16, Present Your Cities at Birchland Park (tentative date) January 25, Competition in Boston (Model and Presentation are due)
Wrap-up: Cleanup at 3:05. Out the door at 3:15 (I have to pick up my kids at school.)
Objectives: To work on your models, SimCities, and Essays. To report on your progress at the end of class.
Activator: In your groups, make a list of what you plan to accomplish today.
Mini Lesson: Painting/Covering your base. Show me your plan, cover the table with newspaper, I'll give you some paint and paint brushes to use.
Deadlines. December 5, SimCity is due December 20, Essay is due? December 20, Abstract is due? January 16, Present Your Cities at Birchland Park (tentative date) January 25, Competition in Boston (Model and Presentation are due)
Student Engagement: Work on Virtual Cities, essays, and models
Wrap-up: 3:00 Report your team's SimCity progress: Population, Age of City, Rubric Points (If you like.)
Next Week: more about the abstract ____________________________________________________________________________________
November 7, 2013
Objectives: To learn about types of engineers. To get started on the essay (one person from each group.)
Activator: What do engineers do? Write a list with your team.
Objective: To choose a name for your city. For one person from each team to learn about Virtual City Tips and Requirements.
Activators: With your groups, choose a name for your city. Remember to choose a name that represents your city, and will be appealing to your residents (and to the judges at the competition.)
Choose one person from your team to become the SimCity4 Expert.
Mini Lesson: Today, I will work with one person from each team to discuss and learn about SimCity4, and the Virtual City Requirements. Everyone else will work on their models and/or research essays.
Virtual Model deadline is December 8th. You have to use the medium city region.
Wrap-up: 3:00 Cleanup, Share what you have accomplished so far with your model.
Mini Lesson: Learn about Accessibility, Intermodality and Sustainability.
Student Engagement: Make sure you understand the questions. Get into your groups. Choose a person to record your answers. Choose a person to present your answers. - In groups, discuss:
What transportation problems will your city need to manage based on its population, location, terrain and layout?
1. Identify one problem of moving people in your city. Why is it important to help solve this problem?
2. What mode of transportation will you choose to help solve this problem?
3. How will you ensure that your transportation is safe?
4. How is your solution plausible (based on real science?)
5. How does your solution address accessibility, intermodality and sustainability?
Wrap-up: One person from each group presents their solutions.
Objectives: To understand scale and learn how to use it in your model. To think about designing your models out of recycled junk.
Activator: Can you think of some examples where both engineering and art are used to create objects?
Mini Lesson: As you watch this Look Alikes Video (5 minutes), look at how the items are used without being altered too much. Let's look at this example of scale factor: Scale Factor Let's figure out the scale factor of a toy car and human small enough to ride in it. How wide should a one way street be in our model if we want to be able to drive our toy car on it?
Groups are assigned.
Student Engagement: In your groups, read through the model instructions and rubric, decide on a scale for your model.Select a few objects that you could use in your model. Think SCALE, SCALE and SCALE. Remember your model may not be taller than 20 inches.
All objects must be put away in labeled boxes on your assigned table.
Wrap-up: Groups share their choice of scale for their models. (We are done at 3:15) _______________________________________________________________________________________
Welcome everyone! Today we will meet until 2:50. Other meetings we will meet until 3:15. Please make sure that you sign in outside in the hall.
Activator: Take a look at the four Future City Models. What are some of the things that kids used to make the models? How are the models different? How are they similar? What are some things that you like about the models?