Polymers are one of the most prevalent materials in today’s society, making up plastics, fibers, paints and many more! Polymers are long chain molecules built of single monomers. All polymers also have a unique set of properties specific to that substance. Engineering use science and technology to combine two polymers with different properties into to create a new material with both properties! Today you will try and make your own buoy that floats and is able to hold weight, out of two different materials that will simulate polymers.
The student handout will be given to all students working on the design challenge. It gives a brief recap of the story, it helps the students identify what they are attempting to achieve, and it recaps the design process.
World Wide Polymers TEK8 Facilitator’s Guide
This Instructor’s Guide provides the instructor additional information on how to run the design challenge with alternatives for materials and test setups as well as information to help make the design challenge a good educational experience.
The Telling the Story Video conveys the societal impact of the student’s research that is the basis for the design challenge and will set the problem-solving context for students.
The Design Challenge Video leads students through the design process. It indicates materials available, states what the criteria are for success and any constraints. It also gives a second ‘level’ of the design challenge that allows ‘early completers’ to move on to a slightly more difficult challenge.