Engineering Exploration (St. Therese Wednesdays Session F 2:40-3:25 p.m.) 5th-8th

Year long ($50 enrollment fee)

In this class, we’ll embrace our inner engineer!

We’ll play with all sorts of experiments in the four main branches of engineering; electrical/chemical, mechanical, structural, and materials engineering. After creating a force field, getting slimed, chuting the breeze, and catapult bowling, your child will have thoroughly explored problem solving, been tested in the virtue of fortitude, and have made some incredible memories with friends. This class will not have any tests, but will have an engineer’s showcase at the end of each semester. Each engineer or team of engineers will bring a creation of their own to show parents and classmates. Each creation should start with a question or a problem to solve, and end with a product that is an attempt to answer or solve that problem. For example, a problem that I would like to fix is that my puppy likes to slam her body into our screen door and break the latch. To solve that problem, I might engineer a series of mouse traps that attach to the door at her height with magnets and are covered with a safety bag. Ruby would push into the door setting off the mouse traps, making a great terrifying racket, but the traps are unable to hurt her because of the safety bag. This prototype can be mocked up with Legos, drawn in a poster, or actually attempted.

Required materials: Each student will need access to C cell batteries, D Cell batteries, and some smaller sizes. A roll of masking tape with name written on the inside, pencils, erasers, and the book Real Engineering Experiments by Anthony Tegtmeyer ISBN:9781647399962 Mrs. Koerner will regularly ask you to raid your recycling bin for things like clean jars, cardboard, and bottles.

*** Significant discounts are available for full-day enrollment and co-op families. ***
Contact Jenn MacDonald for questions (260) 445-3838.

St. Therese Catholic Church, 2304 Lower Huntington Rd., Fort Wayne, IN

* If a student has special needs, please contact the teacher to discuss any accommodations that might be made.

** All classes require online family registration and enrollment. Year-long classes carry a $50 yearly enrollment fee. This enrolls your student in the class for the entire year. There is no need to re-enroll for 2nd semester. The cost of the class is due no later than the first day of each semester in an envelope labeled with your student's name & the class name with cash or a check made out to the teacher. Registration and Enrollment Fees are non-refundable.