YOUNG ENGINEER FOR BRITAIN K’NEX CLUSTER CHALLENGE 2009 Teacher Training Material

1. YOUNG ENGINEER FOR BRITAIN K’NEX CLUSTER CHALLENGE 2009 Teacher Training Material

2. AGENDA • Introduction • K’Nex workshop • How to run a Cluster Challenge • K’Nex Kit

3. Young Engineer for Britain K’NEX Challenge • UK Wide Competition (~60,000 pupils compete annually) • STEM SCOTLAND (formerly SETPOINT Scotland) organise Scottish part – Glasgow University Science Festival (GUSF) now organise West of Scotland region • Aimed at Primary 6 pupils • Working in teams of 2, pupils are set a Challenge where they have to make a model using K’NEX kits to demonstrate their imagination, creativity and ingenuity • 5 Levels of participation, best team progress to next level, each level getting more difficult

7. STEM SCOTLAND and Young Engineer for Britain • STEM Scotland have organised Scottish part of competition over last 8 years • Historically invited primary schools to take part as individual entries • In 2005 K’Nex challenge was a pilot for a new cluster-based approach to science outreach • In 2006 we built on the foundations of that pilot and more clusters worked together for the Challenge. Young Engineers interested in rolling this out across England • In 2007 we fully developed this model and used it to get more and more schools involved

8. The Cluster Challenge Year Planner

9. Summary Of K’Nex 2009 • Level 1 CLASSROOM WORKSHOP • P6 teacher delivers workshop to class • Class split into teams of 2 to do Classroom Challenge • Select winning primary school team • Level 2 CLUSTER CHALLENGE • Winning Primary school teams compete in Cluster Challenge, ideally hosted by the secondary school. • Cluster Challenge Winning team will represent the cluster at the Area Final (May ’09)

10. Summary Of K’Nex 2009 • Level 3 Area Final (May 09) • All winning Cluster Teams take part in Area Final • Winning and Runner Up team go on to Scottish Final • Level 4 Scottish Final (June 09) • All Scottish teams compete at Scottish Final • Level 5 UK Final (London, TBC) • Scottish Winning team competes at UK Final

11. K’NEX P6 CLASSROOM WORKSHOP

12. 3 WAYS TO USE K’NEX • INSTRUCTIONS: build models following step-by-step instructions. • FREE PLAY: children build any kind of model they wish without instruction • CHALLENGES: children are set an objective, then use their innovation and problem solving skills to design and build a model to meet this objective. Encourage pupils to work together to develop team-working skills.

13. SAND RACER • The workshop is based on a set of increasingly complex challenges to provide pupils with the necessary skills to effectively use K’Nex and participate in the competition.

14. TRIANGLE

15. CREATE YOUR OWN INITIALS

16. CONSTRUCT A CUBE

17. BUILD A BRIDGE

18. PULLEYS – simple machines

19. PULLEYS - block and tackle

20. HOW TO RUN A CHALLENGE WITHIN YOUR CLUSTER

21. CLUSTER CHALLENGE OBJECTIVE • To provide a team of 2 pupils from each cluster group to attend the Area Final in May.

22. 1st Step - CLASSROOM WORKSHOP (duration approx. 1hr) • Teacher and pupil versions of the worksheets are provided to run the workshop in the classroom • Use workshop to develop basic practical skills • Recommend organising a mini-challenge as basis for team selection (bridge or K’Nex User Group website) • Looking for practical ability, creativity, innovation, problem solving and team working skills

23. POSSIBLE CLASSROOM CHALLENGE bridge building exercise or Challenge on website

24. Example of CHALLENGE ‘Playground Equipment” challenge. • Level 1 challenge plus judging sheet are included on website www.setpointscotlandseas.org.uk/teachers • Build a piece of playground equipment; fairly easy but allows you to assess who can do it!

26. JUDGING GUIDELINES – Level 1 1.  Presentation, Communication and Teamwork: communication, planning and drawings (25 points) 2.  Solving Problems: overcome design problems (25) 3.   Operation/Function and Design: Does model function competently? Any novel design features? (50)

27. Once Classroom Challenge is complete Send Classroom Challenge form to us to tell us • How many pupils have taken part • Date of Classroom Challenge • Date of Cluster Challenge • How many teams from your school are going to Cluster Challenge

28. CLUSTER CHALLENGE • Winning teams from all P6 classroom challenges will take part in their associated cluster challenge. If there are few primaries in the cluster then could have 2 teams per primary (or even 3) competing. • Venue would ideally be the associated secondary school. • Need a sponsor from secondary to ensure all runs smoothly • Date and venue of cluster challenge to be decided amongst participants.

29. ROLE OF SECONDARY SCHOOL • Help organise and host cluster challenge. • Provide pupil volunteers to work with primary schools prior to competition and/or assist on the day. • Assistance from secondary science or technology studies teachers (organise, set challenge and judge). • Select the challenge from options on website / design your own. • Provide judges (teachers or senior pupils)

30. ONCE CLUSTER CHALLENGE IS DECIDED • Need co-ordinator or nominated person to complete “Cluster Challenge” Form and return to us at least ONE WEEK before Challenge takes place • On receipt of form we will send you Challenge Pack with • Cluster Challenge • Judging Sheet • Certificates • Prizes for winning team

31. GUSF can provide a Challenge for your Cluster Challenge • Needs to be kept a secret from all primaries until the day of the Challenge – hence not included on the web! • We will send you Cluster Challenge in your pack, you can decide to use it or not.

33. CLUSTER CHALLENGE • Challenge to be planned, designed and completed within 1 hour. • Teams need paper and pencil to draw design first • Entries are judged in accordance with competition guidelines • Participants / Winners are presented with certificates • Winners presented with prizes

34. JUDGING GUIDELINES – Level 2 As per Level 1 1. Presentation, Communication and Teamwork 2. Solving Problems Splits 3. Operation/Function 4. Design Added category: 5. Visual Appeal

35. Once Cluster Challenge is complete • Send faxback form to GUSF with details of winning / runner up team (form included on website) before 1st May 2009. • The winning team will represent their cluster in the appropriate area final.

36. K’NEX KIT for doing Challenges • Level 3 Area Finals will use 1500 piece kits (supplied by GUSF) • For your Classroom and Cluster challenges, 450 piece kits are sufficient. A team of 2 pupils can easily work out of a 450 piece kit box. • Schools are welcome to purchase their own kits for use within school • We can loan kits to a cluster but rotation between schools must be organised and rotated by cluster, not GUSF • All kit boxes must be signed out and returned by agreed date

37. Summary of Forms required • Classroom Challenge reply form, from EVERY primary school, after classroom challenge has taken place • Cluster Challenge Booking form, from nominated cluster contact, at least one week before challenge takes place • Winners/Runners Up faxback form from nominated cluster contact, after cluster challenge has taken place

38. Contact: West of Scotland: Gail Penny (GUSF) on 0141 330 5370 Email g.penny@physics.gla.ac.uk