Save the Penguins!
Make sure you have plenty of "penguin" ice cubes frozen before the activity. I used penguin shaped ice cube trays, but regular ice cubes will work just as good. It is a good idea to create a sample ice cube for them to use to practice while building their design. I made clay ice cubes and allowed them to harden.
For sunlight, you can use a heat lamp. I created a "hot box" for all the structures to fit into to test simultaneously. The hot box was a large plastic box with black construction paper on the bottom and aluminum foil on all sides. I then attached one heat lamp to each side to try to ensure equal heating.
Try to be as quick as you can when removing cubes to measure. I used a cup to hold the "penguin" an zeroed out my scale in between each group. Identifying a couple of students who can assist you will make it move smoother.
Save the Penguins![1] Challenge
Team Name: __________________________ Team Number: ______
Team Members: ____________________________________ Job: _______________________
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____________________________________ ___________________________
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Save the Penguins! Challenge - Team Jobs
Challenge Captain
- Keep the team on task
- Make sure everyone’s ideas are heard
- Get everyone to come to a decision
- Record ALL information on the data sheet for the team
- See the teacher or contact other teams, if needed
- Get involved! Talk, do AND listen!
Materials Master
- Gather materials for the team – purchase supplies from head contractor
- Make sure supplies and resources are kept tidy and are put away
- Make sure project and supplies are stored properly at the end of each class so that they are safe until the next day
- Get involved! Talk, do AND listen!
Testing Coordinator
- Coordinate tests needed to check success for the team
- Decide when tests of ideas are needed during the challenge
- Run the tests on Test Day
- Make sure Challenge Captain knows what data to record during Test Day
- Get involved! Talk, do AND listen!
Chief Architect
- Coordinates building for the team
- Decides which ideas to build during the challenge
- Suggest to the Testing Coordinator when a test might be needed during a challenge
- Make sure the team is building safely at all times and according to the design plans.
- Get involved! Talk, do AND listen!
Rapid Reporter / Time Keeper
- Share the ideas used by team when presenting to the entire group
- Explain the solution the team used to solve the challenge
- Explain challenges faced by the team during the challenge
- Answer any questions from teacher/classmates about the challenge
- Follow the time constraints provided in the challenge
- Make sure team is using time wisely
- Get involved! Talk, do AND listen!
EVERYONE
- Should help with cleaning up your work space
- Is a Trouble-Shooter
- Read Instructions
- Suggest ways of solving problems
- Think of resources the team could use to solve problems.
Save the Penguins! Challenge
Requirements, Limits, and Constraints
- Create a Penguin Home out of only the supplies available.
- You have a budget of 100 Credits. If you go over your budget, your Penguin Home will be disqualified.
- The abilities of each design will be tested in direct “sunlight”.
- A design model must be drawn and approved by the Engineering Specialists (AKA: teachers) before any supplies are purchased.
- The Penguin Home must be able to fit a “Penguin” within its structure.
- The Penguin home must protect their “Penguin” for 10 minutes from direct sunlight.
- The Penguin home can have either zero, one, or two doors. The penguin must have a way to get in and out.
- “Penguins” will then be removed from their home and weighed on a scale. The goal is to have the heaviest “Penguin” in the end.
- No wrapping the “Penguins” in any materials!
Save the Penguins! Challenge
Record and Scoring Sheet
Budget is 100 Credits
| Supplies | Credits (Cost) per Item | Quantity WANT – (Student Record/Tally Here) | Quantity USED – (Teacher Record/Tally Here) | Total Credits Used per Supply (TOTAL AT END) |
| 1 Small Container | Free | 1 | Free | |
| Cotton Balls (each) | 10 | |||
| Wood Stick (each) | 20 | |||
| 4”X4” Construction Paper (each) | 5 | |||
| 4”X4” Foam Sheet (each) | 40 | |||
| 4”X4” Square of Felt (each) | 40 | |||
| Bubble Wrap (piece) | 10 | |||
| 4”X4” Square of Aluminum Foil (each) | 5 | |||
| 4”X4” Square of Mylar (each) | 5 | |||
| Total Credits Used = | ||||
| Score for the Home is:100 – Total Credits Used = |
Save the Penguins! SCORECARD
Did your “Penguin” survive the heat? Y N
| Criteria | Calculations | Points Awarded | |
| Unused Budget | 100 – Total Credits Used | = | + (plus) |
| Mass of Penguin | Initial Penguin Mass – Final Penguin Mass | = | - (subtract) |
| Survival Points | 200 pts. = The “Penguin” is unmelted (SURVIVED) = no melting/change in the penguin, what-so-ever. 100 pts. = The “Penguin” has some melting but the shape of the “Penguin” is still distinguishable50 pts. = The “Penguin” is barely there0 pts = The “Penguin” becomes a liquid bird | = | +(plus) |
| TOTAL POINTS | = |
- Analyze the igloos that prevented the most heat transfer (which igloos has the greatest amount of ice penguin remaining).
- Which design features were the most effective at preventing heat transfer?
- Why were these design features effective at preventing heat transfer?
- Which types of heat transfer were reduced in each design?
LABELED Design Model
Two-View Design of Penguin Home: Be sure to label all materials used.
Description of Penguin Home: Be sure to identify amounts of all materials used.