Framingham Public Schools

Sixth Grade Curriculum Outcomes

Language Arts | Math | Science | Social Studies | Art | Music, Choral & Instrumental
Physical & Health Education | World Languages | Technology & Engineering

 

Technology & Engineering Education

 

TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS - Grade 6

 

Learning Standard:

Explore and analyze the structure, propulsion, control, guidance and suspension systems in land, air, water and space transportation vehicles.

 

Basic Texts:

• Experience Technology: Communication, Production, Transportation, Biotechnology, Soman Swernofsky, Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, 2nd edition, 1997.
• Mission 21 NASA Curriculum Initiative, Brusic & Barnes, Delmar Publications, 1992

 

 

Brief Statement of Subject Matter:

Transportation systems are a composite of many other technologies. This unit will introduce students to the basic concepts and principles of land, air, and space systems. Students will also experience the engineering design process.

 

General Objectives:

Students will know and be able to:

• Identify and discuss components of various transportation systems.
• Design and develop a powered vehicle.
• Measure rate of acceleration and speed of a vehicle.
• Design and construct a prototype exploring the principles of flight.

 

Major Units:

1. Transportation Systems
2. Land Transportation Concepts
3. Air Transportation Fundamentals
4. Water Transportation Concepts
5. Space Travel

 

 

 

     In grades six through eight, students pursue engineering questions and technological solutions that emphasize creative and critical thinking, problem solving, decision making, and research. They acquire skills in safe use of power tools and machines. By engaging in hands-on activities, students explore transportation, manufacturing, and bioengineering systems, with particular attention to thermal issues associated with the relevant technologies. Starting in these grades and extending through grade ten, issues of power and energy are incorporated into the study of most areas of technology. Students achieve a third level of engineering design skill by conceptualizing a problem, designing prototypes in three dimensions, and constructing their concepts by using power tools. The culmination of the design experience is the development and delivery of an engineering presentation.

(Science and Technology/Engineering Curriculum Framework Draft, August 2, 1999)

 

     Middle/junior high schools provide opportunities for interdisciplinary learning experiences where students can apply and reinforce math, science, and other basic skills through the use of technology based applications.

 

 

The major topics of investigation for technology/engineering at this level are:

• Nature of engineering and systems of technology
• Engineering: design, produce, use, and assess

 

The program goals are:

1. Enable the students to develop an understanding of technology in terms of goals, inputs, process, output, feedback and the effective use of limited resources.
2. Develop an understanding that technological decisions are related to advantages and disadvantages of processes and products.
3. Develop interpersonal skills through participation in collaborative solutions with their peers.
4. Have students use selected tools, machines, materials and processes in a safe and proper manner.
5. Identify occupations, careers, and education programs in technological fields.
6. Develop creative solutions and skills to solve problems using technological applications and human resources.
7. Apply and reinforce math, science, and other basic skills by practical applications for academic development.
8. Improve the understanding of technology (technological literacy) and its use as an important force in our economy.
9. A student that understands – with increasing sophistication- what technology is, how it is created, how it shapes society, and in turn is shaped by society is technologically literate.

 

 

The Engineering Design Process (Grades 6-8)

• Design a product using engineering and scientific principles.
• Produce (using tools and machines), use, evaluate, and improve the product that was designed.
• Document the design process through written and graphic means, including three view drawings.
• Make an engineering presentation of the finished product (including an explanation of the scientific principles involved) using print, visual, and electronic media.

 

 

Power and Energy (Grades 6-8)

 

Brief Statement of Subject Matter:

Power and energy, as applied to the investigated technology, should be discussed at every grade level. Simple electrical concepts and solar power will be introduced at some point in grades 6-8.

 

 

General Objectives/Units:

• Safety and usage of electricity.
• Solar power as a renewable energy source.
• Sources of electrical energy.
• Electrical circuit configuration and design.