This is a project to test your ability to think before you

build. Can you create a design from which something can be built? The end result will be a free-standing, self-turning Ferris Wheel made from different materials (whatever you want). But the objective of this project will be to improve your ability to plan.

Using the Engineering Design Process

You will work with a partner Can you be receptive to your partner’s input? Can you be sensitive to their interest level and

involvement? Can you decipher your strengths and those of your

partner and use them both to achieve your objective?

Teamwork

Learn the history of Ferris Wheels. Successes? Failures? Challenges? Different designs? Construction plans?

Research Ferris Wheels

Create a design of your own to build a Ferris Wheel out of your

materials. The design must include: Scale drawing of your Ferris Wheel Parts list (maintain a complete list of all parts used) Construction Plan (detailing the order in which you will put it

together) All revisions must be approved by Mr. Denney Before any materials are procured, Mr. Denney must approve your design If any changes are made to your design, Mr. Denney must sign off on it

before it can be implemented Each participant must have in his/her own notebook each revision

of their Ferris Wheel. Create a shared folder in Google Drive that you save all of your

documents, files, and pictures in Take pictures of any work you do on paper and save it in that folder

Your Design

Make a PowerPoint of your project, including: Participants’ names How the history of Ferris Wheels (called Big Wheels in

Europe) helped you come up with your design Your original design Any changes you made to your original design and why Your final design Lesson learned about: Teamwork Planning Constructing Anything else

Presentation

Build a free-standing, self-turning Ferris Wheel made from

anything you like. It must hold 10 evenly spaced gondolas (passenger cars) that must rotate freely between the two sides of the Ferris Wheel as the wheel turns. Your Ferris wheel (including the base and the wheel) must fit inside a 2ft x 2ft x 2ft cube.

Must have a motor driving Wheel Can’t use parts that are made to connect like K’Nex or Tinker Toys Cannot use already made parts (like bicycle wheels or hub caps to make your wheel)

Build it!

Present to the class your PowerPoint presentation Demonstrate the functionality of your Ferris Wheel to

the class

Present it!

40 points Design 30 points Construction 20 points Presentation 10 points Teamwork 100 points Total

Grading

Read through these PowerPoint slides and the scoring

rubric, and keep a copy of them handy to refer back to Before you relax and sigh, “Finally done!” check

through these slides and the rubric one more time to make sure you didn’t leave anything out.

Keep copies and pictures of everything you do Anytime you learn something or realize something new,

jot it down in a “Lessons Learned” document on your Google Drive

Ask for help before you let yourself get frustrated

Hints

Ferris Wheel Project Rubric.pdf

Rubric

You will have two weeks to design and build your Ferris

Wheel.

Schedule

Good Luck!

Begin!