Blogpost #2 – Develop and Plan

Model/Sketch your idea – sketch multiple perspectives: label measurements/sizes, desired materials, fasteners/adhesives & techniques needed for construction:

Materials:

  • 1 plastic bottle with its cap
  • 5 plastic caps/4 wheels
  • 2 paper clips
  • around 10-15 rubber bands
  • 2 straws
  • 2 skewers
  • 2-4 popsicle sticks

Tools/Adhesives/Fasteners:

  • hot glue gun
  • drill
  • pliers
  • scissors/paper cutter

PLAN/SCHEDULE

Day 1: find all your materials and start crafting the body of the car

Day 2: finish crafting the body and start to make and attach the wheels

Day 3: start to create the elastic motor in the body

Day 4: test the car out and fix anything that is not working

Day 5: final touches/design the car

Blogpost #1 – Define and Inquire

What is this engineering task? 

We need to design and make a toy that converts energy which can be helpful to people.

What are you thinking about/interested in doing? (this should be multiple ideas/precedents)

  • A hand-crank flashlight
  • A rubber band operated car

Embed images/links/videos of ideas you like/don’t like – comment on what you like/don’t like, and why.

I like how this product uses a few materials that you can easily find at home like popsicle sticks and chopsticks. I also like how this is very small and portable but still does the job. I like how this can be made without that much-advanced technology; anyone that has the materials can do it. I don’t like how there are some safety hazards while building them for example, the drill and the wires.

I like how the speaker looks handmade instead of store-bought which shows how authentic it is. I also like how the battery, a renewable source, is used and converted into electrical and sound energy. I don’t like how we need to purchase many items that could be hard to find to make this product. It might not be safe if we don’t have the proper knowledge to handle all the equipment.

I like how easy uses mainly recyclable materials that can be found in many people’s houses. The materials used are also not that dangerous and are easy to handle. There are no special devices that are used at all which makes this an easier process to build. I like how simple this toy is. I also like how it converts elastic potential energy to kinetic energy. I dislike how it is not that portable and that it can easily be broken as it is very flimsy.

Define the target audience/problems/audience needs you will address.

  1. Entertainment/Usefulness

The main thing people look out for in any product is how entertaining/useful they are. They might lose interest if the product doesn’t entertain them or help them in any way.

  1. Education

Many people don’t know the science/ mechanics behind how their favorite products work.

  1. Efficiency

Some examples of how products are not efficient are how long they last (if they are battery operated), how portable they are, how easy they are to use/fix/build etc.

  1. Safety

Some people worry about their safety of themselves while using the products as they don’t want to get injured.

Overall I will need to think of a way to create something that is entertaining/useful, efficient, safe to use, and easy to understand its mechanism.

Costume Design – PJ

Costumes are an important part of any theatrical production. From simple all-black clothing in a modern theatre piece to an elaborate Elizabethan costuming in a Shakespeare period piece, costumes communicate a wealth of information to the audience. The COSTUME DESIGNER is responsible for creating the costume “look” of the show. Working closely with the Director, the Costume Designer uses their knowledge, skills, and experience to bring the Director’s vision to life.

Factors of Costume Design:

  1. Age
  2. Gender
  3. Social Status
  4. Occupation
  5. Geographic Location (culture)
  6. Occasion/Activity
  7. Time of Day
  8. Season – Weather
  9. Historical Period
  10. Psychological Factors/Personality/Emotions

How would you summarize the responsibilities of a Costume Designer?

  • they are in charge of not only the costumes but also the actor’s makeup and hair
  • they collaborate with many people like tailors, sowers, artisans, etc.
  • they support the Director’s vision of the play
  • they research for a lot of information and handle many deadlines

Lighting Design – PJ

What is this clip about?

This short clip is about “How light brings out the life in plants”. I wanted to experiment with lights around my house to see what I could come up with. I used a normal beige tinted lamp and put it at the bottom of the mirror. This resulted in the tall shadows of the leaves on the wall. I held a lamp that had a magnifying glass in it, which created a circular shape, and added two colored plastic sheets into it. This created a yellow, green, and pink light. I started moving the light into the frame when the music started and slowly moved it closer to emphasize the main focus on the plants. I envisioned the yellow light to be a sun because when the light reaches the plants, they look more alive and brighter.

What did you previously know about lighting design?

I knew that there were different types of lighting angles and colors that could affect what emotions are conveyed to the audience. I also knew that lighting design is very important in theatre because it always amplifies everything and sometimes even helps the audience understand what is happening.

What do you know now about lighting design?

After doing this project, looking at other people’s work, and getting feedback from my peers, I have learned a lot about lighting design. Shadows that are created by different angles of lighting can make something look very mysterious. Blackouts and flashing lights also add a lot of tension and eerieness to the video/play. Moving lights can also add life/movement to motionless objects. Overall I have learnt how lighting design plays a big part in adding emotions and ideas to any type or art piece!

 

Formative Socratic Seminar English

Things I did well in

  • I asked questions to the group
  • I talked about my opinion and asked everyone else for theirs
  • I brought up some topics to talk about

Things I could work on

  • I could expand more and explain exactly why my questions are important to talk about (no point in bringing up questions that will not go anywhere)
  • I should build upon my groupmates opinions and ideas
  • I could also contribute to the discussion by connecting an idea in the book to something in society

What goals do I have for next time?

  • Ask more questions
  • Bring people into the conversation
  • Lead some parts of the discussion

What steps will I take to achieve this goal?

  • I will ask questions that could have multiple different answers
  • Include any teammate that is not participating in the conversation