2 Can be none, if you use supplies already in the classroom.

Students create models of objects of their choice, giving them skills and practice in techniques used by professionals. They use sketches as they build their objects. This activity facilitates a discussion on models and their usefulness.

Modeling is an important step in the engineering process. Before beginning work on a new project, engineers develop models of what they want the product to look like. Models serve as examples both for those involved in development as well as customers. dimension measure model proportion prototype scale sketch Students learn what a scale model is and how to construct one. Students learn about the uses for scale models and why they are produced. Possible building materials: LEGOs Popsicle sticks pipe cleaners sugar cubes cardboard candy toothpicks tape and glue paper and pencil Have you ever built or seen a model car or airplane? They look just like real cars and airplanes, only much, much smaller. These are what you call scale models because they are an exact smaller copy of the real object. Scale models are often built as a hobby, but engineers build scale models as part of the engineering design process when designing objects or structures. There are various ways to define the engineering design process, but all involve the following basic steps: Identify need or problem Collect information Brainstorm ideas to fix problem or satisfy need DEVELOP a MODEL (or PROTOTYPE) Test and analyze model Make improvements on design Present results Developing a model (or working prototype) is a crucial step in every definition of the engineering design process. These small-scale models are built to simulate the real larger objects or structures. Experiments are conducted on these prototypes to test how well they work and determine if the design is safe and effective before building the real-sized structure. It is much easier, safer and less expensive to make design corrections on a model rather than the real object. For example, if an aerospace engineer was in charge of designing a new satellite to orbit Jupiter, she and her team would build a scale model of the satellite and run experiments on the model before building the real satellite. However, if she skipped the design process of building and testing a model and the satellite did not work properly, she would suffer the consequences of wasting millions of dollars of NASA's funding. As an engineer, it is extremely important to understand the significance of creating a scale model. The size of a picture, plan, or model of a thing compared to the size of the thing itself. A small but exact copy of something. A rough drawing representing the chief features of an object or scene. Recommended Resources: The Wikipedia entry for "scale model" contains several good links to modeling concepts: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scale_model Gather building materials. Obtain or make a scale model of something the students are be familiar with. Have students choose what objects they are going to model. (Tip: You might want to have a few objects for them to pick from; this helps them to choose objects that are not too difficult to accomplish in the time provided.) Explain to students what a scale model is. Show the class an example and discuss with the students why they think that engineers would need to make models before making the real things. Have students work alone or in pairs to build scale models using the building materials provided. Have teams sketch their objects before building them, and modify the models, as necessary. as they progress. You may choose to have students build something specific, or with a common theme, or have it be open-ended. An easy criterion is to have students build something that is in the classroom, that way, a variety of objects are available and in front of them. Students could also bring objects in from home. Rubric for Performance Assessment (pdf) Rubric for Performance Assessment (doc) What is a scale model? How can you depict an object without the actual object? Why are scale models useful? Where are they used? What did you build? How did you build it? What is its function(s)? What other material would you use for the life-size version? Grading Rubric: Evaluate student models based on the criteria in the attached rubric, including design planning, construction craftsmanship, accurate sketches with proportional dimensions, and demonstrated understanding of the purposes for and value of scale models.