Physics Carriages

In my MWF fourth period class, my students have been discovering and elaborating on the scientific method. I chose cars & ramps (aka pinewood derby car) as an opening project.  We spent two weeks learning the different parts of the scientific method and how to measure our results.  We create reports (I’m on my fourthContinue reading “Physics Carriages”

The Google Sketch Up Lab

This year, I’ve been working closely with another colleague to create, a project-based CAD course.  When I was presented with the challenge, I dove in head first. This week I have been presenting various perspective/drawing challenges to my students in an effort to assess their current capabilities.  I’ve been enjoying a curriculum challenge, and afterContinue reading “The Google Sketch Up Lab”

New School Year: Boxes, Trays and Benches

This week, I’m proposing and planning projects for the 2011-2012 school year.    According to the Mayans, it should be a killer.  I’m attached to the Math/Sci crew as a “Technology Resource” – meaning I’m running a CAD workshop, an Electronics course and probably some sort of Lego Mindstorms-based course.  In my traditional role as aContinue reading “New School Year: Boxes, Trays and Benches”

This Week in the Shop: End of Summer Program

The summer program wraps up today.   Our summer program acts as an experimental zone, a transitional buffer and a slice of consistency for both teachers and students.  Personally, I love summer programs – no grades, no pressure, just the chance to provide as fun and therapeutic educational experience as possible.  Anyways, this summer saw the returnContinue reading “This Week in the Shop: End of Summer Program”

(Re-)Planting Salt Marsh Grass: Galveston Bay Foundation

In Feburary, fifteen of my students ripped up some two-hundred salt marsh grass stalks.  After a few months of careful husbandry, we re-planted the stalks in the middle of Trinity Bay.  I’ll let the Galveston Bay Foundation take it from here… We got muddy and wet and smiles on our faces. Replanting the salt grassContinue reading “(Re-)Planting Salt Marsh Grass: Galveston Bay Foundation”

Current Projects: The Butterfly Chair

One of my woodshop classes have ended for the week, so I took the opportunity to document the progress: And this is what happens when a student ticks me off! (ok, ok, I was pulling a big nail with a small hammer…)

This Week in the Shop: Cardboard Prototypes

This week’s word:  Prototypes.  Brought to you by the letter C for cardboard. What a week!  My students spent last week drawing and planning and designing and planning and planning.  We got outside this week! My chair group is off to a fast start.  Both “makers” have created cardboard prototypes for their chairs, while theContinue reading “This Week in the Shop: Cardboard Prototypes”

This Week in the Shop: The Cajon Drum

This week, I prepped for this summer’s woodshop classes.  The students will be building these benches, mending and designing chairs and constructing Cajon drums.  I’ve secured enough lumber for the benches, pulling plywood chair designs from various sources and built this example project.  Look to the above link for construction details. I finished the sidesContinue reading “This Week in the Shop: The Cajon Drum”

(School) Year in Review: Art Car 2011

As I gear up for summer program, I will be taking a little time to reflect on my past year. My bosses at work have kept me on as a teacher, although I smell the terrifying and exciting smell of change in the air. On May 22nd, my students (and I) participated in the 2011Continue reading “(School) Year in Review: Art Car 2011”