Mission to the moon
How can we design and build flat foldable furnishings and structures for efficient transport to space?
Is it in the best interest of humanity to collaborate or compete in the race to space?
Ninth grade students at the Dayton Regional STEM School tackled these questions and here's how they responded.
Art, Engineering + Math
Students work in teams to design origami inspired furnishings and shelter for a moon habitat. All products must be flat foldable for efficient transport and storage. In art, students learn complex folds that offer possibilities for flexibility and rigidity as they work in teams to design products considering form + function. They are supported through inspiration and critique by our partner Dr. Kazuko Fuchi, Research Engineer at University of Dayton and her colleagues. Dr. Fuchi specializes in origami applications to aerospace design. In geometry class, students are required to apply Kawasaki or Maekawa’s theorem to prove flat foldability. Students test designs by gradually scaling up prototypes with goal of building full scale pieces with application of skills they are learning in Engineering.
Language Arts, Chinese + U.S. History
Students are developing a debate-in-a-box interactive product that addresses the driving question: When considering space explorations, are Humanity’s interests better served by collaboration or competition among countries? The product must require the users to apply the research evidence included to discuss/debate/apply competition and/or collaboration and decide which is best. The Wooden box created in Engineering Science must play a part in the activity.
Partners
Dr. Kazuko Fuchi, Research Engineer, Air Vehicle Optimization Group
Applied Mechanics Division, University of Dayton Research Institute
Founded in 2009, the Dayton Regional STEM School is a public independent STEM school located in Dayton, Ohio. Our 750 students in grades 6-12 represent over 35 districts in 7 counties throughout the region. Our unique and student-centered education model is focused on principles of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), STEM career pathways, project-based learning, career exploration, professional competencies, and workforce development for the Dayton region. To learn more about the STEM School, visit daytonstemschool.org.