Thursday, February 16, 2017

 Project : TABLE TOP CATAPULT.


You will be making small catapult out of found materials that is designed to launch a standard sized ping pong ball. 

Critique will include a distance demonstration / competition      

Understanding Your Creative Problem:    
You are constructing an object that exerts stored energy.  What are other everyday  machines that have a similar approach to energy storage and release? Can parts of those machines be repurposed for your project? 

    
2 part Home work assignment: 
assigned Feb 17th:

Part 1 : Written assignment  
Type a 1 page paper that describes 3 types of catapult styles. Identify what makes each one unique from the next, and the general idea of the mechanics of how it propelled an object.  

Include links of your sources at the bottom of the page. 

Part 2: print 5 images of small home made catapults.
Use these images as reference for what types of materials to collect to construct your catapult.  You may use scrap wood and materials from the shop in addition to the materials you bring in. 

Think: 
possible materials? What size should this simple machine be?  
rubber bands. springs. bungee cords, tongue depressors, plastic silverware, soda bottles, dowels, paper towel tubes, coat hangers, paper clips, nuts , bolts, hooks ? 

DUE ON MARCH 24 : 1 paper, 5 images, catapult supplies.

MARCH 3 work shop day.

This is your opportunity to use the class room to build your project. Makes of hand tools if necessary. : )


MARCH 10 : CATAPULT DISTANCE COMPETITION.

REGULATIONS and GRADING :

1. Catapults must be designed to be fired from a table top. 
2. No larger than 18" x18" x18"
3. NO TEAM UPS...one project per student.

grades based on : 

1. Does it work ?  Does the catapult shoot a ping pong ball ?
2. Construction. It the catapult crafted well? Does it feel stable and sturdy?
3. Engineering. What is the method of propulsion? 





Friday, February 3, 2017

Project Description

What does a trap do? It captures something. It collects something. Think of a specific audience or object(s).

Think about the following definitions:

Trap (verb)
  1. (transitive) To physically capture, to catch in a trap or traps, or something like a trap. 

Entrap (verb)
  1. (transitive) To catch something in a trap or snare.
  2. (transitive) To lure someone, either into a dangerous situation, or into performing an illegal act.


Entrapment can be a physical, mental, relational, social, or logical thing. Answer the following questions, as you prepare to research for your design:

1. Who will you audience be (who do you want to trap)?
2. How will you choose to trap your audience?
3. What bait would be appropriate for that audience? Think of something enticing to them.

Optional: If your trap is physical, consider how your sculpture can have moving parts, and how it will function.  Look for objects in your everyday life that you can use as source material. You don't have to make everything. Some things can be modifications of existing things you already own (or find).



Specifications

Your trap must have a title.( does the title establish a mood? )
Each trap must include some type of physical element that you create.

Your sculpture must be smaller than 24"x24"x24". There is no limitation on materials, but it must be safe (no dangerous electricity, fire, sharp objects, etc).

Find materials from the world around you. Be resourceful- there are free materials everywhere. 

Use all the skills you have learned through the year, and build on these. Challenge yourself to think outside of the box... literally. 

Your trap must be displayed and demonstrated in class. If your trap involves existing architecture ( like doors or cabinets or sinks) be sure you can set it up in the class room.

Theoretical traps must accompanied by a presentation. (including photographs, videos and  texts where necessary )
  

Evaluation

You will be graded on creativity, originality, and concept and craft. You will also be graded on your process (time-management, and working through multiple ideas). 

Please note: You will need to take photos through your entire process. These will be submitted along with the final project. No project will receive an A without this documentation. Process is important. 

Lastly, your project must have a title, and you must think of how the title it will be displayed (do the words convey the feeling of the trap? )  Presentation is part of context, and context drives meaning.    


Schedule
Feb 10th. ( inflatable crit-day and home work check)
Sketches of the title of your Trap project. 
Some class time will be spent  in group sessions reviewing sketches and discussing research and development. . DO NOT COME IN EMPTY HANDED :)  this is part of the grade. 

Feb 10 homework.
Your homework is to exercise the research and development stage of the creative process. You will do this by walking through the steps listed below. Here are the things you will need to bring to class on Feb 17

References w/descriptions
One-page typed document (printed out) with a list of 5 websites that you visited for your trap research. At least one of these websites must be an actual article (not a how-to, or list of pictures) that discusses some type of trap. (Remember, a trap can be physical and/or conceptual.) Examples of an appropriate article can be a newspaper story, something written for a journal/magazine, or something from Academia/industry). The one-page document must be printed out (no exceptions). It must include one-line brief descriptions for each website. This must be fully complete to receive credit for this portion.


FEB 17th

Present Detailed Drawings of your trap design in class. 
Project work day;

The drawings must be at least 8.5 x 11. The drawing should show good use of the elements of design- line, form, color, texture, etc.  (Note: These are fully-resolved drawings, NOT sketches)

In addition, the drawings should be informative; they should give us helpful information. Please be sure your drawings answer the following questions:
1. How does the trap physically work? Show details of moving parts, trigger mechanism, etc.
2. What materials will be used? Be detailed and use color/texture/collage to show this.
3. What do these materials communicate? Descriptions/diagrams in the drawings should address this.
4. What concept are you engaging? Again, descriptions/diagrams could be helpful.
5. How is the form of your trap communicating? Scale, shape, text, etc.
6. What is the working title? This should be clearly labeled in your drawing.


Final Project Due Date
FEB 24th 

Trap Demonstrations/ presentations.


Rubric for Homework
5 References = 10pts
3 Drawings = 30pts
Materials/Project = 60pts
--------------------------------
Total Possible  = 100pts

A =100 - 90
B = 89 - 80
C = 79 - 70
D = 69 - 60
F = 59 - 0 

Please be prepared at beginning of class with your own self-assessment based on the above rubric. 


Researching traps

Here is a link to an animal trap website

Here is a link to a funny page with different ideas of traps






Attention!!!! This is a trap!!! Please listen carefully:

To show us that you have read through the entire blog click this link and follow the directions...