So far, I have read two books. The first book I read was a cartoon version of animal farm. This book used animals to represent the different social classes and how there will always be someone who is above others. The second book which is book I am currently reading is a book called Sapiens. This book talks about how sapiens were able to get to where we are. This book goes into detail about the cognitive revolution, the industrial revolution, and more. Personally, I think that the book Sapiens has had the biggest impact on me because I have developed a new way of seeing different things, and has made me question what caused the difference between sapiens from other animals. The thing that surprised me so far from my book is how sapiens are only able to work together because of our ability to believe in things that do not exist. These beliefs unite us and are the reason why we are able to function as such a large society. Something else that surprised me is that humans really did not gain much personally from farming. If they stuck to being gatherers they would have had a better life in the short term but by farming, humans slowly industrialized and developed our society to where it is now.
All posts by Ashley
Reflect & Share
My product is a motorboat that has a fishing feature. This boat converts electrical and mechanical energy to kinetic energy. I started by thinking about who the audience was and used this information to think about what they would like and what would be possible for me to make considering the time of 4 classes. Next, I looked at YouTube videos for inspiration and ideas. I then settled on an idea that I thought would meet the specifications as well as be a possible product for me to create. Then I started thinking about how to construct the boat. I confirmed my measurements as well as all of the materials that I would need to construct the boat. I developed a detailed plan of how I would construct the boat. Afterward, I started creating the product. I used the materials that I had decided upon and started constructing. Once I had created a product, I asked for peer feedback to see how I could improve the boat. I then made improvements to the boat so that the boat would function properly as well as be appealing to others. Lastly, I reflected on and shared my product with others. Throughout this project, I learned a lot about how to construct a good product as well as deepened my understanding of the design process.
My success criteria were for the boat to be able to float and move. Through testing my boat, I found that the boat was indeed able to float and move, however, sometimes the paddle would get stuck which caused the boat to stop moving. Whilst the fish did work, some of the magnets fell off while we were testing and so it would have been better if the fish were constructed differently. Something that would be better if I considered in more depth would be how we could make the batteries also be more sustainable.
My toy meets the design specifications because firstly, the audience was for younger children to play. Our final product was indeed quite suitable for a younger audience because of the fishing aspect as well as it being a motor boat toy. Secondly, we needed to show energy transformation which our toy did. Our toy uses the batteries on the boat and goes from electrical and mechanical to kinetic energy. This kinetic energy then allows the paddles to spin which leads to the boat being able to move in water.
Im most proud of how I constructed the boat as well as how I connected the wires on the motor to be able to make everything connected. Im also proud of my problem solving skills and my ability to be able to change and edit my product so that it will be better. Something that was really challenging was learning where everything was in the design space as well as figuring out how to make the boat shape because the material we wanted was not available and so we had to use a harder material that snapped very easily.
Create & Improve
Some strengths to my prototype were that the different components and pieces of the boat were made. However, the shape of the boat was quite strange because the material we used was not as bendable as we had expected and so all of our measurements were made for a material that would bend easily. This changed parts of our boat as we changed different dimensions to allow for the boat to be assembled. Another strength is that we were able to make the motor work properly and be able to spin correctly. However, we need to refine the motor position because if we went with our original plan and placed the motor at the end of the boat, the paddles would hit the boat’s body which restricted its movement. Instead, we moved the paddles to the front of the boat. We also shortened the popsicle sticks’ length so that they would not hit the body of the boat.
Hana- It would be better if the paddle wheels were constructed better.
Sophie- Maybe think about how to protect the battery from getting wet.
Candy- Maybe test it out in a larger space.
Some feedback that I got from peers was to make the boat more interesting. Perhaps adding other design elements to make the boat more interesting. Because of this feedback, I added designs on the boat as well as a fishing mechanism to the boat to make it more interactive as well as interesting.
Develop and Plan
To reach my final idea of creating a motorboat I first thought about different Ideas on how to utilize a motor to make an interactive and interesting toy for a younger audience. Then using different ideas I sorted through them to find which ones would be suitable considering the amount of time for this project as well as the purpose and targets of this project. Once I finalized my product, I used design skills by starting with a simple sketch and adding measurements. Then I would evaluate my sketch and see how I could improve and add more details. Then I continued this process until I was happy with the outcome as well as the design of the product.
- Cut out the pieces of the boat
- Glue the pieces together to form the boat
- Make adjustments to the shape of the boat
- Connect the motor wires and battery
- Attach the motor to the boat using blue-tac
- Make the paddle wheels using popsicle sticks and bottle caps
- Glue the wheels to the metal skewer
- Find a good position for the wheels and motor
- test the spinnability of the paddles
- make the fishing rod using a skewer and rope
- make the fish using magnets, hot glue, and tape
- test the float ability of the boat
When the boat can float and move I would consider the project a success but if we are able to make the magnet fishing function work as well, it would then meet my expectations and my goals. If the boat also looked nice and was made with very clean cuts, then it would be a very good product and would be very successful. However, my main criteria was for the energy conversion to work, and allow the boat to float and move.
Define and Inquire
The purpose of my toy is to be able to move in the water. The motor causes the wheel of the boat to turn. This then causes the paddle to push through the water which causes the boat as a whole to move forward. This means that the motor will allow the boat to move. The battery on the boat is using electrical and mechanical energy and through energy conversion, the energy becomes kinetic energy which causes the wheels to spin and allows the boat to move.
Some environmental impacts may be that using a motor may not be a great thing for the environment but I will use materials such as popsicle sticks and bottle caps which means we are recycling those materials. However, the product will definitely be safe as I will make sure that the parts are not super sharp. However, I would also have to be careful with the fish idea, because if the person playing with the toy is very young, they may try to eat the magnetic fishes which are quite dangerous. This toy will also be quite durable, however, if you try to break it, it will fall apart and break into little pieces.
Some precedents that inspired me included videos of different people making different cars and boats using motors. From the videos, I took away how to use the motor to spin the propeller or the wheels. I also took away how to shape the boat to be more boat shaped. I used the videos to help me know how to construct the boat so that it would work properly however, many design and decorative elements were my own ideas.
I am making the product original because, in my final product, I will be adding a different element for my intended audience, which is younger children, which is adding fishing lines. Using magnets, I will make fish. This allows my intended audience to be able to play with a motorboat and catch little fish. I will also be changing the dimensions of the boat as well as some design elements and decorations.
Gender Inequality: The Difference in Opportunities
This is my capstone video on Gender Inequality. Something I am proud of in my video is the drawings and the music as they were both created by me. This was a really fun project and I enjoyed creating an interesting video on the topic of gender inequality.
What is Gender Inequality and How Do We Solve It?
Imagine a life where you could not choose what to do with your body. Where you do not have any power to make your own decisions. Where you must marry someone that you do not love at the age of 12. Imagine living a life where you do not get opportunities because of the gender you were born with. Where others have more power than you just because of your gender. If we do not make a change, our future generations may not even have the choice of who they want to be as a person. Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right but is also a necessary foundation for a peaceful and sustainable world. Gender equality is the #5 Standard Development Goal. Gender equality is when people have opportunities and resources regardless of their gender. This means that people have control over their own bodies and the decisions that they make. Gender equality is very important and so we should make changes. But what can we do to reach gender equality? In order to reach gender equality so that both genders can be secure and confident, we must understand the various causes, effects, and solutions of gender inequality.
What are the causes of gender inequality?
Gender inequality is caused because of social constructions of relations. Women’s roles are valued less economically and are also often limited in mobility. Did you know that “only 6 countries in the world give women the same legal work rights as men. In fact, most economies give women only ¾ the rights of men” (“10 Causes of Gender Inequality”). Women also lack political representation and positions in the political world. Because of these inequalities in the political world, “of all national parliaments at the beginning of 2019, only 24.3% of seats were filled by women. As of June of 2019, 11 Heads of State were women” (“10 Causes of Gender Inequality”). Many women around the world do not have authority over their own bodies and lack bodily autonomy. Because of this, “globally, 750 million women and girls were married before the age of 18 and at least 200 million women and girls in 30 countries have undergone FGM” (“Achieve Gender Equality and Empower All”). This shows that gender inequality is caused for many reasons and has a huge effect on our community.
How are people affected by gender inequality?
Gender inequality has affected many people and can create a lot of challenges for people. Many women around the do not have proper education and this affects the opportunities that they will receive. Due to the fact that “Around the world, women still have less access to education than men. ¼ of young women between 15-24 will not finish primary school. Of all illiterate people in the world, 2/3 are women. It has a huge effect on people’s future and the opportunities they will receive when they do not receive the same level of education as others” (“10 Causes of Gender Inequality)”. Gender inequality causes a lack of legal protection for women which can harm people. This leads to, “over one billion women do not have legal protection against domestic sexual violence or domestic economic violence. In many countries, there is also a lack of legal protection against harassment in the workplace, at school, and in public” (“10 Causes of Gender Inequality”). Gender inequality is also very prominent in schools. “In primary schools, the average cost of boys’ uniforms is £130.81 whereas for girls it is £150.14—and as girls get older, the disparity continues, with girls’ uniforms for secondary school costing an average of £191.68, more than 10 percent higher than boys (£170.29)” (Platt). As you can see, Gender inequality has a huge effect on different people and can make everyday life drastically harder.
As a community, what can we do to reduce gender inequality?
Gender equality is caused by many various reasons and to reduce gender inequality we must recognize our issues and work together to help so that we can reach equality. By supporting the education of girls, we are helping to reduce these inequalities. However, “supporting girls’ pathway from education to employment requires more than learning opportunities. It requires keeping girls safe from all forms of violence, in and out of school” (“Gender Equality”). Government support can also help to reduce gender inequality. This means that “government collaboration with women’s organizations can help to ensure that the climate policies meet the specific needs of women and girls” (“Five Ways to Build”). We should support women’s leadership and their representations because, “Women’s representation and leadership appear to drive better environmental outcomes and when community climate programs fully include women, they often are more effective and efficient in their use of resources” (“Five Ways to Build”). As you can see, we should realize our issues and support each other so that we can reach equality.
Understanding the causes, effects, and solutions to gender inequality will help us reduce gender inequality. Gender equality has a huge impact on people and is very important for the future of our society. Gender equality is caused by social constructions and affects people in various ways. To reduce these gender inequalities, we must work together and support each other.
Works Cited
“Five Ways to Build Gender Equality and Sustainability.” Un Women, Feb. 2022, www.unwomen.org/en/news-stories/feature-story/2022/02/five-ways-to-build-gender-equality-and-sustainability?gclid=Cj0KCQjwyYKUBhDJARIsAMj9lkGpKEfqHDAzuCfbM_dHRoArIMjrA4n-7hfoYXZouMcr6pAaz0VCp2QaApm2EALw_wcB. Accessed 31 May 2022.
“Gender Equality.” Unicef, www.unicef.org/gender-equality. Accessed 20 May 2022.
“Goal 5: Achieve Gender Equality and Empower All Women and Girls.” Sustainable Development Goals, www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/gender-equality/#tab-0db1d27a5d041c56afe. Accessed 31 May 2022.
Platt, Poppie. “Parents Face ‘Pink Tax’ through Extra Cost of Girls’ School Uniforms.” Daily Telegraph, 9 Sept. 2021, p. 3. SIRS Issues Researcher, explore.proquest.com/sirsissuesresearcher/document/2581920416?accountid=4047.
“10 Causes of Gender Inequality.” Human Rights Careers, www.humanrightscareers.com/issues/causes-gender-inequality/. Accessed 31 May 2022.
The Terror that Follows the Revolution
I will tell you who I am. I am a survivor of the death of my own father. A survivor of starvation. A survivor of the Terror of 1793. And most of all, a survivor of the French Revolution. During the period of the revolution, I took journals to track my journey on this horrible path towards liberty, equality and fraternity.
Was the revolution worth it? I think it is still too early to tell. Many things changed. Some continuities are that France went from monarch to monarch and that Roman Catholicism remained, although more suppressed, during the revolution. Some changes are the demolishment of the hierarchy, end of absolutism and it brought ideas of freedom and liberty into Europe.
The French Revolt!
The photo above was found here.
When you first hear the words, French revolution, what do you think? Do you think about all the people that had died or do you think about the guillotine monster? Well, this video will tell you all you need to know about the French revolution. From the peasant uprising to the return of Napoleon. This video covers it all. Now, let me tell you a little about what France was like before the revolution. There were many causes to the French revolution. In pre-revolutionary France, people were split into three estates and peasants had no power and worked hard whilst the higher estates had parties and spent money on jewelry and fancy outfits. This was one of the main reasons for the French revolution.
Adventure into the Coldest Place on Earth
Lost in the Antarctic written by Tod Olson is a book about the doomed voyage of the Endurance. The Endurance is the name of the ship that the crew of 27 men went on for a trip into Antarctica on December 5, 1914. This book follows the crew on their journey as they adventure into the Antarctic. During this unit, I took many notes of themes and central ideas and learned about the journey to the coldest place on earth.
. From: https://www.pickleai.com/blog/15-taking-notes-memes-gifs-free-to-steal
On this page, I was looking at how the captain, Shackleton, treated his crew. I noticed how he was making sure that they were happy and willing to keep going. I used this page to put out all of my thoughts and make sure that I had evidence and page numbers from different areas of the book.
On this page, I was looking at cause and effect. I found that there were many causes and effects of different things and this helped me to connect the things that were happening in the book. Because of this page, I was able to find different reasons why the crew wanted to go on the voyage into the coldest place on earth.
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For this page, I looked at parts that I found confusing or that I felt had more information that I may have missed and reread them so that I would be able to understand what was happening and get important details. I used the post-it notes at the bottom of my page to see the themes and central ideas to track my thinking throughout the book.
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On this page, I was looking at a theme that kept showing up. I used this page to track my thinking and to list out the evidence and the different areas of the book where these themes were mentioned. As I was developing my theme I tried to look at what the author wanted to teach me.
