Cars of the Future!

Contributed by Nina Rozes, Teacher

In this lesson, students created "blueprints" of their own designs for cars of the future. What new types of technologies could be developed for our cars in fifty years? What will a luxury vehicle look like in the future and what features will it have? What will fuel them? The students discussed these questions while referencing images and prototypes of future cars created from the 1930's to the 1960's by General Motors, Ford and Chrysler. The students compared the luxury features, design and type of fuel these futuristic concept cars were projected to run on with the designs and features of cars created today, particularly hybrid and electric cars. Inspired by this discussion and relating the design of cars to animals that evoke movement such as birds and sea creatures, students designed "blueprints" of their own concept cars of the future. Some students even created their own design firms in the classroom and collaborated on the concepts for their cars!

 

  

String Mache, Day 2! Super Progress!!!

Here is another glimpse at our string mache progress. Nina demonstrated how to pop the balloon to reveal the string mache's final form. This was quite an event, as the string shell collapses with the balloon, then slowly regains it's form. We then began another round of string mache: Students demonstrated more confidence in wrapping the string around their balloon forms and worked more swiftly. This time, the designs were more complex, with 2 balloons tied together or with carefully planned color schemes that spiraled downward. We are looking forward to quite a spectacular display hopefully by the end of this week... stay tuned and enjoy the photos below : )

Note how the students were quick to have fun with the left over balloons! We had a whole cast of characters and it was a really fun way to end the class!