Project Code - click to continue to abstract and project plans

Project Name

Suggested
Grade Level

BR1

The Junior Bridge

E/M

CT1

 The Elementary Catapult

E/M

CT2

The Advanced Catapult

M/H

DB1

Das Boat

E

DB2

The Paper Boat

M/H

ED1

The Egg Drop

E/M/H

GB1

The Gameboard

E/M

GB2

The Advanced Gameboard

H

GL1

The Balsa Glider

E

HL1

The Hydraulic Lift

H

LA1

L'Auto

E/M

LA2

L'Auto 2

M/H

LY1

The Land Yacht

E/M/H

MA2

The Model Airplane

M/H

MA1

The Junior Model Airplane

E/M

MG1

The Electromagnet

E

PC1

The Pendulum Clock

M

PR1

The Perception/Reaction

E/M/H

PV1

Planet Venus

E/M

RK1

The Rocket

E/M

TG1

The Telegraph

M/H

TW1

The Straw Tower

E/M

TW2

The Earthquake Tower

M/H

TW3

The Tower of Babel

E/M

The Basic Buzzer

The objective of this project is to build an electrical circuit that is similar to one found in certain doorbells. The project consists of making an electromagnet which causes a switch to open and close causing a buzzing sound like an electric door buzzer.

Length - 4 Sessions
Team Size - 2 Students
Grade Level - E/M

The Basic Compass

The objective is to make a compass by magnetizing a needle and floating it on a small piece of Styrofoam. Each student makes a compass and the team attempts to determine the direction of magnetic north and then correct it for magnetic declination.

Length - 1 Sessions
Team Size - 1 Students
Grade Level - E/M

The Basic Kite

The objective is to make a kite from a standard 8 by 11 sheet of paper and plastic drinking straws. Each student will make a kite and practice flying them. The team will select one of the kites for the competition. The winners of the competition will be the kites that reaches the greatest altitude with a fixed length of string.

Length - 1 Sessions
Team Size - 2 Students
Grade Level - E/M

The Junior Bridge

Design and fabricate a bridge to a given set of minimum dimensions. Familiarization with concepts of forces, compression, tension, deflection, and strain. Develop drawing (drafting) skills and translate two-dimensional data into a three dimensional model.

Length - 8 Sessions
Team Size - 2 Students
Grade Level - E/M

The objective of this project is to design and build the lightest weight bridge to span 24" abutments and to support 50 lbs. at any location on the bridge. Materials consist lengths of pine and builders glue. The project involves one of various cross-section design, analysis, drafting, layout and construction. In some cases mentors may need to provide weights.

Length - 10 Sessions
Team Size - 2 Students
Grade Level - M/H

The Advanced Catapult

The objective is to design and build a device to throw a ping pong ball accurately at a target 25 ft distant. Available materials include plywood, rubber tubing, springs etc. Teams design the device and make drawings of specialized parts which are ordered from FSEA. Please allow three weeks for manufacture and delivery of parts. This is a special order project.

Length - 10 Sessions
Team Size - 2 Students
Grade Level - M/H

The Elementary Catapult

The objective of this project is for the student teams to assemble a basic catapult from a kit supplied to them and then determine its performance. The teams should vary the adjustable points of the catapult to observe the change in performance. Data taking is encouraged as there will be a competition testing the teams accuracy at hitting targets at various distances. There will also be a competition to see which team can get the maximum distance from their catapult.

Length - 8 Sessions
Team Size - 2 Students
Grade Level - E/M

The Objective is to build a boat using aluminum foil to float as many marbles as possible. The only material available is a 6" x 12" piece of aluminum foil.

Length - 3 Sessions
Team Size - 2 Students
Grade Level - E

The Paper Boat

The objective is to build a boat from a piece of card stock 6"x12" and tape, which will float as many marbles as possible. Experimentation with boats made from foil will precede construction of the card stock boat (See Das Boat Description). The final boat will be built from the least amount of card stock material to float a given number of marbles. This project is similar to an engineering design-to-cost problem.

Length - 3-4 Sessions
Team Size - 2 Students
Grade Level - M/H

Electric Auto

Length - 3-4 Sessions
Team Size - 2 Students
Grade Level - M/H

The Electric Circuit 

This project involves introduction to electrical conductivity, electrical wiring and introduction to electrical schematics. This project is helpful if performed prior to the Electronic Gameboard

Length - 3 Sessions
Team Size - 2 Students
Grade Level - E

Electric Circuit Design and Breadboard

The objective of this project is to breadboard single L.E.D.s to create a letter. Four students then work together to breadboard a four letter marquis. The team capable of breadboarding the stipulated letters in the least time wins.

Length - 3-4 Sessions
Team Size - 2 Students
Grade Level - M/H

Students learn the science of electrical energy, and how to calculate electrical energy usage at school and in the home. Students learn to read electric meters, to develop written plans for estimating energy usage, and how to develop and implement a conservation plan.

Length - 10 Sessions
Team Size - 2 Students
Grade Level - E/M/H

The Eggdrop

The goal of the project is to successfully drop a packaged egg from a predetermined height without breaking the egg.

Length - 5 Sessions
Team Size - 2 Students
Grade Level - E

The Elevator

The objective is to build a computer controlled elevator with four floors. This requires building an onboard computer using the STAMP chip and infrared transmitters and receivers or other devices. Team members also must build the mechanical structure with a height of approximately 36".

Length - 
Team Size - 
Grade Level - 

The Basic Electric Motor

The objective is to build a very simple electric motor using a battery, magnet and wire. The unique feature of this project is that each student takes the project home and explains the operation of the motor to family members and reports back to the club.

Length - 3 Sessions
Team Size - 1 Student
Grade Level - E/M

The Gameboard

The objective is build a game board which has 10 questions and answers. An LED lights when the correct answer and question are connected. The teams design and wire the board as well as choosing questions and answers. Innovation and neatness will be the basis for competition.

Length - 6 Sessions
Team Size - 2 Students
Grade Level - E

The Advanced Gameboard

This is an advanced version of the GB1 project. It is an introduction into logic design. A game board is wired so that correct answers light a green LED while incorrect answers light a red LED. Either diode or TTL logic may be used.

Length - 6 Sessions
Team Size - 2 Students
Grade Level - H

The Glider

Each student is given a balsa wood glider kit. The student is to experiment with the glider for straight flight and 90 degree turns, right and left. The gliders may be modified with bent wing tips and extended tails. The competition is based on accumulated points for hitting a target, turns and extended flight.

Length - 4 Sessions
Team Size - 1 Students
Grade Level - E

The Paper Glider

The objective of this project is to build a simple glider from a drinking straw, strips of paper and tape. The goal is to build a glider which fly and stays up the longest time

Length - 3 Sessions
Team Size - 2 Students
Grade Level - M/H

The Hydraulic Lift

The objective is to design and build a machine which can lift the largest percentage of a liter of water to a height of 6" above the original height. The original height is 36 inches from the floor. The only energy allowed is the gravitational energy in the weight of the water. Any material may be used, but actual costs of purchased parts cannot exceed $25.00 per team. Teams secure their own material, reimbursed by FSEA. This project is difficult.

Length - 12 Sessions
Team Size - 2 Students
Grade Level - H

The Ice Cream Project

During this chilling FSEA experience, students make individual portions of ice cream, either vanilla or chocolate.  Using zip lock bags, crushed ice, rock salt and their own cold hands students mix the cool concoction and eat the results.

Length - One Session
Team Size - One Student
Grade Level - E/M/H

L'Auto

The objective of this project is for the students to design and build a rubber band powered vehicle which can perform a variety of tests with emphasis on the cost effectiveness of the designs. While performing the tests, the students will be exposed to such concepts as mass, velocity, energy storage , power and friction along with the effects on performance when various design changes are made.

Length - 10 Sessions
Team Size - 2 Students
Grade Level - E

L'Auto 2

The objective is to build a cost effective rubber band powered car to perform in various events. Speed, Distance, Control, Tractor Pull, Intelligence. The kits have no pre-drilled parts. Students must determine size, wheel configuration, and rubber band configuration. This is a special order project.

Length - 12 Sessions
Team Size - 2 Students
Grade Level - M/H

The LandYacht

The objective is to build a land yacht will go furthest and fastest is a wind produced by a fan. Each team is given kits with parts to construct land yachts and foil for the sails.

Length - 6 Sessions
Team Size - 2 Students
Grade Level - E

The Junior Model Airplane

The objective is to build and fly a simple propeller driven airplane powered by a rubber band engine. Aerodynamics and stability are demonstrated. Each student builds an aircraft, teams enter the best aircraft in the competition

Length - 6 Sessions
Team Size - 2 Students
Grade Level - E

Model Airplane

Each member builds a rubber band powered model airplane from a kit. The students learn to adjust flight dynamics. This project requires a gymnasium. Students learn aerodynamic and inertial forces on an airplane, power requirements and structures. Special mentor training is desirable.

Length - 12 Sessions
Team Size - 2 Students
Grade Level - M/H

Download Student Supplement

The Electromagnet

The objective is to demonstrate the relationship between magnetism and electricity. A mentor demonstration kit is available. The mentor has the option of limiting the project to a demonstration or having students wind and electromagnet, Different core materials will be available for constructing an electromagnet. Determining the strongest magnet will be the competition.

Length - 5 Sessions
Team Size - 2 Students
Grade Level - E

The Marble Slide

The objective is to experiment with potential and kinetic energy by rolling a marble down an incline. Other shapes with different moments of inertia can be modeled on the computer program.

Length - 5 Sessions
Team Size - 2 Students
Grade Level - E

The Pendulum Clock

The objective is to build a pendulum to measure short intervals of time. The students will record data on the pendulum discovering the relationship between period, amplitude, pendulum length and weight.

Length - 5 Sessions
Team Size - 2 Students
Grade Level - M/H

Perception Reaction

The objective is to define perception and reaction time and allow the student to measure their time. It demonstrates the difference between when the eye sees something happening and the time it takes the brain to determine the action to be taken.

Length - 1 Sessions
Team Size - 1 Students
Grade Level - E

Petroleum Recovery

Students use a hands on system pressure and pumping simulation to learn about petroleum recovery.  This project involves following written instructions and percentage computation for simulated oil recovery methods.  

Length - 1 Sessions
Team Size - 1 Students
Grade Level - E

Planet Venus

The objective is to let students discover the principles of measurement of realistic data on a simulated Venusian surface, encoding of data in binary form, and translating data into determining safe landing zones for a simulated landing on Venus.

Length - 7 Sessions
Team Size - 2-4 Students
Grade Level - E

The Robotic Mouse

The objective is to build and program an autonomous computer controlled robot which can escape from a maze. This is an advanced project which requires circuit board soldering, programming and use of PC interface. A complete engineering team of 4 students is required for each robot.

Length - 1-2 Semesters
Team Size - 2-4 Students
Grade Level - H

The Rocket

The objective is to launch a rocket powered by air and water for the longest duration flight.  Parachutes can be used to extend the flying time and modeling software is available.

Length - 6 Sessions
Team Size - 2 Students
Grade Level - E

QBasic Rocket Modeling Program

The Advanced Rocket

Just like RK1 except this rocket must launch a payload and return it safely to earth. Modeling software available for use during design phase

Length - 6 Sessions
Team Size - 2 Students
Grade Level - H

QBasic Rocket Modeling Program

The Solar Furnace

The objective is to determine the focal point of a parabolic dish and build a structure which will allow positioning a straw so that one end of the straw is located at the focal point This demonstrates how the sun’s rays can be focused on a spot to cause the paper to begin smoking.

Length - 3 Sessions
Team Size - 2 Students
Grade Level - E/M

The Straw Tower

The objective of this project is for the students to design and fabricate a tower using ordinary drinking straws as the basic building material. The tower must meet specific dimensional requirements identified to the students at the start of the project. After completion of all the towers, they will be subjected to a load to determine which tower is the strongest.

Length - 5 Sessions
Team Size - 2 Students
Grade Level - E

The Tower of Babel

Teams build cost effective towers using three different size blocks at three different price levels. Objective is to build a tower a given height for the least amount of money.

Length - 2 Sessions
Team Size - 2 Students
Grade Level - E

The Earthquake Tower

The objective is to design and build a cost effective 30" high tower from 36" pieces of balsa wood to withstand a simulated earthquake. The project involves innovative design, drafting and layout. Materials are "bought", with each successive buy having an inflation factor. Parts are cut and glued by students. Competitions are based on towers surviving earthquake simulation while under stress. Earthquake simulators must be returned to FSEA. This is a special order project. Call FSEA in Advance to determine the availablity of the earthquake simulator.

Length - 10 Sessions
Team Size - 2 Students
Grade Level - M/H

The Paper Tower

The objective is to build the tallest free standing tower possible from one eight and one half by eleven sheet of paper and about three feet of tape. The tower has to stand without support and without being taped to the floor for at least 5 seconds.

Length - 2 Sessions
Team Size - 2 Students
Grade Level - E/M/H

The Telegraph

The objective is to design and build a telegraph transmitter and receiver from basic materials. The final competition will be to transmit coded words from one room to another by team members. Competitions are based on transmitting the greatest number of correct words in a give period of time.

Length - 13 Sessions
Team Size - 4 Students
Grade Level - M/H

The Windmill

Requires designing blades for a windmill to be used in lifting weights. Involves assembly of the basic windmill as well as construction of, and adjustments to, the blades for optimum performance. Provides knowledge of static and dynamic friction, aerodynamics, and power calculations. Requires an understanding of horsepower and the difference between power and energy.

Length - 5 Sessions
Team Size - 2 Students
Grade Level - E

The Underwater ROV

Design and build a framework for the ROV.  Effectively seal and waterproof three electric motors for the ROV thrusters.  Engineer the best mounting locations for the thrusters. Build and mount an electro magnet. Learn about and achieve neutral buoyancy. Build and wire per a wiring diagram a switch box with double pole double throw switches. Learn to navigate the ROV effectively in a competition that involves navigating the ROV in a water tank or pool over small metal objects and then activating the electric magnet and then navigating the ROV over a submerged bucket and depositing the object by deactivating the magnet.

Length - 10 Sessions
Team Size - 2 Students
Grade Level - M/H