Project Exchange

ACTIVITY: Metaphor Machine Concept Proposals

Project: Metaphor Machines

SUMMARY

Goals

 

Details

Assessments: Group work

 

Description

Students will complete over 20 research activities and assignments that lead up to their choosing which revolution they will build their machine to represent. (Their first individual assessment is their "REVOLUTIONARY RESEARCH PACKET").

Below is a collection of three graphic organizers that together make up the first group assessment: Concept Proposal.

They must CHOOSE A REVOLUTION, CREATE MACHINE METAPHORS for said revolution, and create SUPPLY LISTS to conceptually propose a plan for their Metaphor Machines.

When students have their Research Packets and Physics Books handy, it is much easier for them to judge/remember which revolution they are the most interested in, and/or which they are the most prepared to take to an abstract level conceptually.

ACTIVITY RESOURCES

(e.g. rubrics, examplars, websites, etc.)


Choose Your Revolution
Machine proposal, completed in groups...
Download (82K)

Metaphor Creation
Students make metaphors relating physics concepts to events & dynamics in the revolution of their choice....
Download (31K)

Supply Checklist
We used this in order to determine what "common" items students would need for their machines, so that we could begin co...
Download (25K)

Supply List
Students complete this list in order to plan for making their machines in realities....
Download (73K)

REFLECTIONS & COMMENTS

Author Reflections

Students started the project with a wide base of knowledge, and with a choice between six revolutions and all physics concepts used. These tools seemed to work well, since all students felt comfortable with at least one revolution, and many physics concepts. Group work allowed students who struggle with abstract concepts (like metaphor) and students who struggle with the concrete side (how do we make this happen?) to work together to make the abstract concrete.