Daycroft Students Explore “A World in Motion” with Help from U-M Engineers

In a Six-Week Activity Led by Volunteers from the University of Michigan’s Engineering School, Fifth- and Sixth Graders at Daycroft Montessori School of Ann Arbor Are Designing, Building, and Testing Paper Sailboats

Volunteer “A World in Motion” instructors Kelsey Flaishans and Tim Eymann, from the University of Michigan’s engineering school, pose with fifth- and sixth-graders from Daycroft Montessori School of Ann Arbor.

Volunteer “A World in Motion” instructors Kelsey Flaishans and Tim Eymann, from the University of Michigan’s engineering school, pose with fifth- and sixth-graders from Daycroft Montessori School of Ann Arbor. Back row, from left, are students Natalie, Brooke, Carter, Anson, Chidochashe, Riya, and Sydney. Front row, from left, are students Luciana, Chloe, Brian, Marcus, Finn (seated), and Zoe.

Ann Arbor, MI (October 26, 2011) – How do an object’s size, shape, and surface area help to determine its speed and course when put in motion? What are the effects of weight, loads, forces, and friction on the object’s mobility? How can something be designed and constructed to move with optimum efficiency in the direction intended?

Fifth- and sixth-graders at Daycroft Montessori School of Ann Arbor are now exploring these physical phenomena in “A World in Motion” (AWIM), a six-week program funded by the SAE Foundation, the charitable arm of SAE International.

Daycroft’s 14 students in Grades 5-6 are tackling the Skimmer Challenge, one of four AWIM activities offered. (Others focus on jet propulsion, gravity, and electricity and electronics.) For one hour each week, the students work with volunteer instructors from the University of Michigan’s engineering school to devise, build, and test their designs for paper sailboats, called skimmers. The AWIM program supplements Daycroft’s science and math curricula for Grades 5-6.

Tim Eymann, a Ph.D. candidate in aeronautical engineering at the University of Michigan, works with Daycroft student Sydney on a skimmer design.

This year’s AWIM instructors for Daycroft are Tim Eymann, a Ph.D. candidate in aeronautical engineering, and Kelsey Flaishans, a junior studying industrial engineering. Amy Morrell and Niki Buchanan, co-head teachers for the Grades 5-6 classroom, facilitate the AWIM activity.

Meeting the Skimmer Challenge

The Daycroft students have split into four Skimmer Challenge teams. Each has selected a team name and designed a team logo. Team members rotate roles from week to week, as they “sail” their skimmers across the classroom’s floor. They run trials and collect performance data for different hull and sail designs. In the process, the students learn laws of physics and motion, and get an introduction to engineering methods.

Daycroft students Zoe and Carter get expert help with their skimmer from Kelsey Flaishans, an industrial engineering student from the University of Michigan.

Each team is challenged to create their final skimmer concept. Per Buchanan, “The skimmer may be designed to sail fast or slow, turn, go straight, carry a load, or travel a lot or a little distance.” The skimmer’s sail and hull may stress function or artistry, she said.

“Whimsical designs are not discouraged,” added Morrell. “The students choose their own concepts. They define the skimmer’s shape, size, and weight. They decide if it will carry anything. And whatever ways they go with their designs, they always understand how the choices they make will affect the skimmer’s performance.”

On the last day of the Skimmer Challenge next month, students will present their final designs and race their paper sailboats in the school’s gymnasium.

About A World in Motion and SAE International

SAE International’s award-winning A World in Motion® is a teacher-administered, industry volunteer-assisted program that brings science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education to life in the classroom for students from kindergarten through Grade 12.

From left are Daycroft students Luciana and Riya – hard at work on their skimmer.

AWIM is benchmarked to national standards and incorporates the laws of physics, motion, flight, and electronics into age-appropriate hands-on activities that reinforce STEM curriculum. Through the support of corporations, foundations, volunteers, SAE members, and the SAE Foundation, A World In Motion opens a window of possibilities for students as they discover the application of science principles and learn about engineering, science, and technical careers. The students learn to work as a team with their classmates and apply creative problem solving during the AWIM activities.

More information on A World in Motion can be found at www.awim.org.

SAE International is a global association of more than 128,000 engineers and related technical experts in the aerospace, automotive, and commercial vehicle industries. Founded in 1905, the organization was originally known as the Society of Automobile Engineers, and later the Society of Automotive Engineers. Learn more at www.sae.org.

About Daycroft Montessori School

Daycroft Montessori School blends the distinctive student-centered teaching methods of Maria Montessori with traditional and progressive teaching methods. Daycroft thus accomplishes its educational mission: to provide a personalized learning environment that appreciates individual differences, nurtures the whole child, and enables students to develop at their own pace and achieve to their full potential.

Daycroft is one of Washtenaw County’s leading private schools. It began as a preschool program in 1968. Daycroft has since grown to include a full-day kindergarten program, an elementary school program through 6th grade, before-school and after-school care, summer camp programs, and enrichment classes.

Daycroft has earned accreditation from the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS; www.isacs.org). It is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS; www.nais.org), and is affiliated with the American Montessori Society (AMS; www.amshq.org).

Daycroft Preprimary School (preschool and kindergarten) is at 100 E. Oakbrook Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48104. Phone: (734) 930-0333.

Daycroft Elementary School (grades K through 6) and Daycroft’s administrative offices are at 1095 N. Zeeb Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48103. Phone: (734) 662-3335.

Media Contact:
Chris Kochmanski
DesignHub, Inc.
(734) 944-8705
chris@design-hub.com

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