Swing¶
This module is designed to help the Cub Scout explore how engineering and simple machines called levers affect your life each day.
Note
General Information about this activity:
When?: 04/06 at 03:30pm
Instructor: Jeff Zemsky
E-Mail address: jeffzemsky@gmail.com
Pre-reqs submission: google form
Zoom link for activity: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86158992384
Bio-sketch: Jeff Zemsky is a Senior Director of Product Management at PTC, a software company out of Boston MA. At PTC, Jeff leads a team focused on PLM software for managing product design as they evolve through the development cycle. PTC is an industry leader in CAD, PLM, AR and IoT helping companies create and manage products of all sorts from consumer goods to aerospace and everything in between. Prior to PTC, Jeff worked at Plug Power managing fuel cell stack design and at Garden Way (Troy-bilt & Bolens) developing consumer lawn and garden products like mowers, tillers and snowthrowers. Jeff has a BSME from Lehigh University and a MEME from RPI and is an ASME member. Currently, Jeff is a Committee member with Troop 1075 in Delmar, NY and serves on the Fort Orange District Committee as was Cubmaster for Pack 232 in Glenmont, NY.
Pre-requisites¶
What is a pre-requisite? It is an activity you should complete before the meeting! Here is a list of pre-requisites you should do to complete this Award. If you do not have time to complete it before the day of the activity, do not despair! You can always send your work later to your instructor at the address listed above!
Choose A or B or C and complete ALL the requirements.
Watch some of the videos listed below (about one hour total) of a show about anything related to motion or machines. Then do the following:
Make a list of at least two questions or ideas from what you watched.
Discuss two of the questions or ideas with your counselor.
Note
Some examples of videos you can watch:
The mighty mathematics of the lever - Andy Peterson and Zack Patterson
What is a Lever? - Simple Machines | Science for Kids | Educational Videos by Mocomi
Simple Machine – Lever and its types | Science | Grade-4,5 | TutWay
Simple Machines for Kids: Science and Engineering for Children - FreeSchool
Simple Machines (Lever) - Distance Learning Science Educational Videos (Elementary Students & Kids)
Three Classes of Levers - Examples, Definition, Classification
Some additional examples include—but are not limited to—shows found on PBS (“NOVA”), Discovery Channel, Science Channel, National Geographic Channel, TED Talks (online videos), and the History Channel. You may choose to watch a live performance or movie at a planetarium or science museum instead of watching a media production. You may watch online productions with your counselor’s approval and under your parent’s supervision.
Read (about one hour total) about anything related to motion or machines. Then do the following:
Make a list of at least two questions or ideas from what you read.
Discuss two of the questions or ideas with your counselor.
Note
Books on many topics may be found at your local library. Examples of magazines include but are not limited to Odyssey, KIDS DISCOVER, National Geographic Kids, Highlights, and OWL or owlkids.com
Do a combination of reading and watching (about one hour total) about anything related to motion or machines. Then do the following:
Make a list of at least two questions or ideas from what you read and watched.
Discuss two of the questions or ideas with your counselor.
Choose one of the following – B or C
With your parent’s permission, take an old or broken household or mechanical item, break it down into its component pieces, and identify the purpose of five parts. Suggested items include a keyboard, computer, telephone, DVD player, toaster, bicycle, people counter, printer or similar item. Make sure to use appropriate safety precautions.
Participate in two sports, either as an individual or part of a team, and identify the levers used in each sport.
Do the following: Visit a place that uses levers, such as a playground, carpentry shop, construction site, restaurant kitchen, or any other location that uses levers.
note – we will work on a video visit during class – if you have a chance to visit a playground before this class that would be beneficial, but not required
Warning
Pre-req submissions
Finally, have your cub scouts ENTER their pre work in this form before April 5th to allow us to create a truly interactive and personalized learning experience. If you are late that is OK, please still fill it out up to our scheduled class. Feel free to contact the instructor (See email in blue box at the top of this page).
What will we do during the meeting?¶
Explore each of the following:
Levers.
Make a list or drawing of the three types of levers. (A lever is one kind of simple machine.)
Show:
How each lever works
How the lever in your design will move something
The class of each lever
Why we use levers
On your own, design, including a drawing, sketch, or model, ONE of the following:
A playground fixture that uses a lever
A game or sport that uses a lever
An invention that uses a lever
Be sure to show how the lever in your design will move something.
Discuss your findings with your counselor.
Do the following
Visit a place that uses levers, such as a playground, carpentry shop, construction site, restaurant kitchen, or any other location that uses levers.
Note
We will work on a video visit during class – if you have a chance to visit a playground before this class that would be beneficial
Discuss with your counselor the equipment or tools that use levers in the place you visited.
Discuss with your counselor how engineering and simple machines affect your everyday life.