Instructional Guide

Transportation: Across the United States.

During this unit you are going to:

Learn about the history of transportationExplore transportation environments and processesExplore the major systems of transportationBuild a model of an important vehicle from history

A few important dates in history:

1841- First emigrant wagon train leaves Independence, MO on May 1st, headed for California with 47 people. They arrived in California on November 4th.

1842- Settlement of Oregon begins via the Oregon trail.1869- The transcontinental railroad is completed on May 10th

Transportation has many forms:

Air

Space Water

Land

Transportation Timeline

How did the development of transportation spur westward expansion in the United States?

Discussion

Transportation ProcessesOrigin

-Storing

Routing and Scheduling

Loading

Transporting

Unloading

-Storing

Destination

Vehicle Systems

Structure- Vehicle system that provides a rigid framework to protect it’s contents and support other systems.

Propulsion- Provides the power to move the vehicle along a path.

Control- Allows the vehicle to change speed or direction of travel.

Design Challenge

Students will review a transportation timeline of events that took place during the settlement of the United States.

Students will then select one transportation device or vehicle and

a - research its contributions,

b - draw a series of sketches for a prototype of the vehicle, and

c - build the prototype.

EngineeringDesignProcess

Step 1 – Identify a challenge

Select a historical period of development in the United States.Select a vehicle that was important during that time.Describe who and where it was invented.Describe its major systems.Describe why it was important.

Step 2 – Explore Ideas

Sketch two or more models of the vehicle.Select and refine the best idea.

√ Identify a challenge

Step 3 – Plan and Develop

Sketch two or more solutions to major features or parts of the model. (Wheels, axles, etc.)

Select and refine the best idea.

List the materials needed to construct the model.

√ Identify a challenge

√ Explore Ideas

Step 4 – Testing and Evaluating

Describe how you will test your model.

What results did you obtain from the testing?

How would you change your design based on the test results?

√ Identify a challenge

√ Explore Ideas

√ Plan and Develop

Step 5 – Presenting the Solution

Prepare a written presentation and/or display for the model.

Present the model to the class.

√ Identify a challenge

√ Explore Ideas

√ Plan and Develop

√ Testing and Evaluating