The Crash Scene
The location of the plane crash, the Amazon Rainforest.Copyright Wikimedia Commons http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Amazon_Manaus_forest.jpg
The associated activity introduces students to the (hypothetical) scenario in which they are a team of EnviroTech engineers returning to the U.S. from a conference in Brasilia, Brazil. When their plane crashes deep in the Amazon forest, they work in groups to overcome various obstacles in their quest to reach help as quickly and safely as possible. They learn about the Amazon rainforest: location, climate, population, unique plants and animals, and threats to its existence.
Engineers work in teams to develop solutions to problems. Following the steps of the engineering design process, engineers first identify and define the problem or challenge. They gather information and conduct research to learn about the topics related to the problem, and they brainstorm and propose multiple possible solutions. They make calculations and evaluate various potential solutions, selecting and acting on the one that best meets the criteria for success.
After this lesson, students should be able to:
- Work as a team to overcome various obstacles in a given scenario.
- Communicate effectively with a team.