Session II

Intro to Making

Increase the density of entrepreneurial, innovative and creative talent in CNY

MISSION

Code of Conduct

HOMEWORK REVIEW

Personal Mark Ideas

Constraints

TODAY'S EXPLORATION:

What are they & Why do they matter?

What is a constraint?

A constraint is a limit or restriction that you have to work within when solving a problem or creating something.

When we’re making, what are some of our constraints?

Materials

Tools

Time

Size

Make Your Mark!

Engraving your mark on your inventors notebook

Project Constraints:

  • Size: Must fit on size of notebook

  • Color: Black and white 

  • Design Constraints: Thick lines

  • Time: 25 mins

Inventor's Notebook

Session II

Part II

We will make a maze where the marble will start at one hole and exit another.

 

Make it tricky! Make dead ends! Make twists and turns!

  • Explore how different materials constrain and influence design.

  • Understand the relationship between material properties and the shapes they can create.

  • Experience how constraints can spark creativity and innovation.

Objectives:

Instructions:

  1. Design and construct a maze that guides a marble from start to finish.

  2. Incorporate only straight pathways and sharp, angular turns.

  3. Focus on how the rigidity of cardboard influences your design.

Challenge 1: The Angular Maze

Material: Cardboard

Constraint: Use only straight lines and sharp corners.

INVENTORS NOTEBOOK REFLECTION

1. How did the stiffness of cardboard affect your maze design?

 

2. What strategies did you use to create sharp corners?

 

3. In what ways did the material limit or enhance your creativity?

 

Instructions:

  1. Create a maze that directs a marble using smooth, continuous curves.

  2. Explore bending and shaping the foil to form curved pathways.

  3.  Consider how the malleability of aluminum foil influences your design choices.

Challenge 2 - The Curved Maze

Material: Aluminum Foil

Constraint: Use only curved walls in your maze.

INVENTORS NOTEBOOK REFLECTION

1. How did the flexibility of aluminum foil help in creating curves?

 

2. What challenges did you encounter while shaping the foil?

 

3. How did the material’s properties affect the complexity of your maze?

 

Instructions:

  1. Construct a three-dimensional maze with elevation changes.

  2. Use playdoh to mold ramps, slides, and tunnels.

  3. Experiment with gravity and angles to guide the marble through your maze.

Challenge 3 - The 3D Maze

Material: Play-doh, Aluminum Foil, Cardboard

Constraint: Incorporate 3D ramps and slides into your maze

INVENTORS NOTEBOOK REFLECTION

1. What techniques did you use to build stable 3D structures?

 

2. How did working in three dimensions change your design approach?

 

3. In what ways did the softness of play-doh present both opportunities and challenges?

Program Sequence

KEENAN INNOVATORS | Session 2

Weeks 1-2

Weeks 3-5

Weeks 6-11

Week 12

Orientation & Intro to Making

Fail Fast!

Design & Make

Learning Showcase

See you next week!