Course/Class: Science

Topic: History of Mechanical Systems

Intents/Objectives/Purpose

Name: Caprice Rosentreter

Unit: Mechanical Systems

Date:
Grade: 8

Students will be looking at the history of the airplane in the early years.
Students should look at how in a short period of time improvements have been made to complex
machines to improve efficiency
Students should notice how innovation can change how we live our daily lives.
Students will look at some environmental impacts that the airplane has created.

Activities
Administration/Homework
This is a new unit so no homework has been assigned yet
Students will be introduced to their video assignment in which they will need to create
groups and research about a complex machine.
1. Introduction/Set/Advanced Organizers
First the students will look at a video about the history of the airplane. The main focus
of this sub unit is to look at how technology has impacted society over the years. The
video talks about how the Wright brothers had to experiment tons to make the first
airplane. I want the students to see that improvements are necessary for advancements
of technology.
Next we will talk about the environmental and sociological impacts that improvements
of technology have made to society in the past and in the future. What are the positive
and negative affects of these improvements?
We will then talk about the assignment. We will look into some newscast of
professionals. They will look at what a newscast looks like. The students will have to
put themselves into groups (different than judobots) and create a name. They will also
create a rubric that they will follow for both the teacher evaluation and the peer
feedback. We will go over some specifics of the assignment. This assignment will be
finished by next Thursday.
2. Clarifying/Creating-Understanding/Concept-Development
The students will watch about the history of the airplane. In the video they talk about
how the Wright brothers invented the first airplane. During the video you see that the
Wright brothers make many improvements to their invention for it to work better. I want
the students to see that improvements to the invention are always a good thing.
After the video is over, I want to talk about some environmental and sociological
impacts that the airplane has made on society today. These will include such things as
fossil fuels needed to make the plane move. This causes the plane to pollute the air in
the process. Even though the pollution has become better over time it still does make its
footprint in global warming.
From the sociological aspect it allows for citizens to move around the world. More
people get to see the world and become more involved in different cultures. A downside
to that are wars. Airplanes have been used in a war to cause harm. So are airplanes
necessarily a negative impact on society?

B. Displays/Resources

Video:
https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=VcqxI-OJ1mk

3.

4.

5.

6.

When talking about the assignment, ensure that the students understand these key
points: What is required from them (all the components), what the main idea of the
project is, how the project is going to play out over the next few weeks. They will need
to pick their groups but must be with different students from their judobot group. They
will get a full document of the requirements on Thursday when they start their research.
Over the next two days they should be thinking about some different technology that
they would want to research. They will need to be approved by the teacher before they
will start researching.
A big emphasis should be on environmental and sociological impact these technology
has made on society.
We will look at different newscast to see what they have in their and create a list of
requirements for the film. Some requirements should include things as interviews,
commercials, a news leader, a co star (possibly), video of the technology in action,
pictures of the technology, etc. We will be creating the rubric for the filming part
together in class. If there is no time then the teacher will make up a rubric.
If they need more ideas about how to make a newscast then they should research about
it after class or ask the teacher.
Students can start working on their project and figure out what they will need to do.
They will have two periods on Thursday to get the research and summary done. The
computer lab will be booked on Friday for those who need extra time. The first 3
components will need to be completed to the teachers approval before they move onto
the filming portion.
They need to come up with a team name and figure out what technology they would
like to research.
Coached/Guide-Practice/Seatwork
Students will need to make a decision on what they want to research and make a film
about. Some suggestions are refrigerator, hovercraft, sewing machine, television,
toaster, etc.
They should have this decision done by the end of class.
Closure/Summary
Make sure that all the students understand what is required in this assignment. They
will be tested on this. They need to take the research and summary seriously because
everyone will be studying from it.
Solitary Practice/Homework
They should create ideas for their newscast for the next class.
Review/Assessment
Students will need to think about what they want to do for their filming. Does this
involve filming outside of school? Or can it be done in class time. They should be
thinking into what they want out of this assignment.

Evaluation/Reflection (of/on lesson)

Video:
http://www.cbc.ca/player/N
ews/TV%20Shows/The
%20National/ID/24053030
16/
http://www.cbc.ca/player/N
ews/ID/2443821501/

Newscast Assignment
Due Thursday April 10, 2014 (In the second class)
Your job is to create a 3-5 minute newscast about the history of technology!
For this awesome task, you will be in groups of 3-4 where you must create a fantastic newscast
to be showcased to the whole class. As a group you must pick a technology that you are
interested in and learn how it has evolved over time. Follow the instructions carefully because
you will not start filming until the prerequisites have been fulfilled! Alright, onto what is
required for this assignment.
The requirements of this assignment:
1. A research paper
2. Summary
3. Script/timeline
4. Newscast
5. Peer Review
1. Research Paper (20 marks)
a. This requires you to do some research about your technology.
This will be 1-2 pages in length and can be done in point form.
You will need to have the following information in your research
paper:
i. Describe the device or technology in the 21st century (How
is it made, what is it used for, how it works, and some fun
facts about the device or technology) (5 marks)
ii. Describe the history of the device and how it has changed
over time. (5 marks)
1. Provide the different stages/changes that the device
or technology has gone through since it has been
invented.
2. For each stage/change provide an explanation as to
why it was changed, how the changes made a
difference or met a particular need, and explain why
it was a positive or negative change
iii. How has this device or technology affects the world today
(10 marks)
1. Why was this device or technology built in the first
place? Why was there a need for this type of device
or technology?
2. How did this device or technology change society
regarding the industrial revolution?
3. What are the positive and negative effects of the
device or technology?

4. Should we be worried about this device or technology

having a huge environmental/sociological impact on
society today or in the future? At what cost has this
device or technology impacted society as a whole?
2. Summary (8 marks)
a. You are to create a short summary for the class about your
device or technology. Please be clear and concise!
b. The summary should be about 2 paragraphs long (about half a
page). It can be done in point form.
c. It should include the following points:
i. Briefly describe what the device or technology is and how
it works. (2 marks)
ii. Briefly describe what improvements have been made over
the years. (2 marks)
iii. How the device or technology has impacted society
environmentally and sociologically. (This is a summary of
section 3 of your research paper) (4 marks)
3. The script (5 marks)
a. You are required to make a script for your newscast. This is your
planning piece for this assignment. You are required to write
down everything that you are doing in your newscast such as:
i. Who everyone is
ii. What everyone is saying
iii. What interviews you are planning to have
iv. Any pictures or videos you are incorporating
v. Anything that will benefit your newscast
b. Basically the script should include everything you will be doing
for the film (I should be able to visualize what your newscast will
look like without seeing the newscast).
c. You are also to provide a timetable for your filming during class
time. I want to see where you are going to be filming and
approximately at what time. (I just need to know where you will
be just in case I need to find you).
i. There is a form attached that you will fill out.
4. Newscast (16 marks)
a. This is where you will do your filming. You will be given 2 straight
classes to film everything you need. If you need more time you
will have to do it outside of class.
b. You will only start filming once you hand in, no
exceptions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:
i. The research paper
ii. Summary

iii. Script
c. In the newscast you need to include all relevant information
about your device or technology. This will be the information you
research in your paper. Try to incorporate as much as possible.
i. THERE SHOULD BE MORE EMPHASIS ON THE
ENVIRONMENTAL/SOCIOLOGICAL ASPECT OF YOUR DEVICE
OR TECHNOLOGY in your newscast.
d. We will be creating a rubric for this section together in class so
we know exactly what is required for the newscast.
e. The end product should be anywhere from 3-5 minutes long.
5. Peer Review (5 marks)
a. Once the rubric has been made, you will evaluate each group
based on that rubric during the presentations. You will do a
feedback form for every group.
b. They will be handed back to the group presenting to look over.
c. This is part of your mark! Please evaluate accurately!
d. This is a way for you to provide feedback to your classmates.
That is all folks!

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Destination where you will be

Accuracy of
Content
Creativity

Presentation of
video

Clarity of video

Participation

4
All facts and information
in the newscast are
accurate.
Newscast demonstrated
students own
interpretation and
expression of research
material. Used a variety
of sources to display
information in multiple
ways.
The newscast flowed in a
logical order and provided
a clear understanding of
the content.

Speaks clearly and

distinctly all of the time
during newscast. All
segments in the video are
easily understood.
The group functioned
exceptionally well. All
members listened to,
shared with and supported
the efforts of others. The
group (all members) was
almost always on task!

3
Most of the facts and
information were accurate in
the newscast.
Newscast demonstrated
some student interpretation
and expression of research
material. Used a few sources
to display information.

2
Some of the facts or
information in the
newscast are accurate
Newscast was factual but
showed little student
interpretation. Used 1 or 2
sources to display
information.

1
Little or none of the facts
or information in the
newscast was accurate.
Newscast was
straightforward with no
student interpretation of
the information. No
sources were used to
display information.

The newscast flowed most

of the time but was
confusing at times. Most of
the time it provided a clear
understanding of the content.

The newscast sometimes

flowed but was very
confusing and hard to
understand. It sometimes
provided a clear
understanding of the
content.
Speaks clearly and
distinctly some of the time
during newscast. Some
segments in the video are
easily understood.
The group functioned
fairly well but was
dominated by one or two
members. The group (all
members) was almost
always on task!

The newscast did not flow

at ALL and was confusing.
There was no clear
understanding of the
content.

Speaks clearly and distinctly

most of the time during
newscast. Most segments in
the video are easily
understood.
The group functioned pretty
well. Most members listened
to share with and supported
the efforts of others. The
groups (all members) was
almost always on task!

Does NOT speak clearly

and distinctly during
newscast. Newscast is
NOT understood at ALL.
Some members of the
group were often off task
AND/OR were overtly
disrespectful to others in
the group AND/OR were
typically disregarded by
other group members.