February 23, 2004
Miller Elementary 3rd grade
Today some of the 4th graders were the mentors for the LEGO projects.
Not only did the groups build one of the mini simple machine projects from the yellow sets -
they also estimated how many LEGO elements their project used.
First they counted the total elements in their sets.
The inventory sheet indicates the amount of each kind of piece
so some of the students added up all amounts to check their count.
Then they built their project.
Each student in the group estimated how many pieces were used and
wrote that number down.
To check they counted how many pieces were not used ant subtracted from the total number.
They were all quite close. Some were three or fewer away
from the actual number.
Two groups made the roller conveyor with the wheel set.
The colors are different in one set.
Two groups make scales with the levers sets.
It is nice when two groups can compare.
The car is the other wheel project.
When the crane lifts a heavy object it can fall.
A pawl and ratchet helps.
The merry go round has two kinds of connectors.
Multiple levers can go far.