Vocabulary
- Adapt
- To make something better suited for its purpose.
- Axle
- The long straight piece that connects to the rotating equipment (usually a wheel)
- Constraint
- A limitation or restriction.
- Criteria
- Standard by which something may be judged or decided.
- Drivetrain
- Allows a robot to move forward, reverse, left and right using wheels or other methods.
- Engineering Design Process
- The Engineering Design Process (EDP) is a structured problem solving process in which students define a problem using a criteria for success and constraints for possible solutions. With the EDP, students should research, explore, and test possible solutions.
- Investigation
- How we collect data to know how things work.
- Feedback
- Information about reactions a performance of a task, which is used for improvement
- Iteration
- To plan, build, test, make changes, then test again.
- Mechanism
- A mechanical device used to make a task easier.
- Modify
- Make changes to something to improve it
- Motion
- The act of moving.
- Spring
- An elastic structure that comes back to its original position after it is pushed, pulled or bent
Encouraging Vocabulary Usage
The following are additional ways to facilitate vocabulary usage as students are engaged in the activities throughout this Unit.
Students should be encouraged to use the vocabulary terms:
- Throughout all of the activities
- As they are working in groups
- As they are reflecting
- As they are sharing their knowledge and experience
Tips for Encouraging Vocabulary Usage
- The best way to learn new vocabulary is to use it in your everyday language. Break the students into teams. Explain that you will be using your “Vocabulary Ears” for the next two school days. When you hear one of the students use a vocabulary word correctly during those two days, he or she will earn a point for their team. The winning team at the end of the two days earns free building time with the VEX GO Kit.
- Have students write a letter to a younger student explaining what they are learning in this Unit. Students should explain what the vocabulary words mean in their own words.