Reflect & Share—Engineering Design Project

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The Marble Run consists of three distinct parts that incorporate a variety of materials to offer users an enjoyable and unique experience. With the marble “wheel” as the first component, users can turn it to release the marble onto the track, where it will navigate through the different turns. By reaching the end of the track and landing in a funnel, the marble will demonstrate the principles of energy transformation.

I have carefully made each component of the device to be both engaging and educational to ensure that users of all ages have a memorable and fun experience. The device aims to demonstrate the different types of energy used in its operation, with the primary function being the display of potential to gravitational to kinetic energy conversion. By placing a marble at the top of the track, students can observe its movement and gain a better understanding of energy concepts. The device is designed to make learning about energy more accessible and enjoyable for students. Throughout the design process, I focused on creating a product that would engage students and encourage them to learn. While creating the marble run, I also learned many new designing, sketching, and reflecting skills, while also reviewing several of the energy conversion concepts myself.

Success Criteria:

  • The marble is able to successfully make it to the end of the track ✅
  • The spinning wheel for the marble at the start of the track needs to be able to turn ✅
  • The product has achieved its purpose and can fully show energy transformation ✅

Using the Rubric:

Define & Inquire:

Clearly define all details of the design problem and target audience  ✅

 

Develop & Plan:

Effectively apply design thinking practices to generate a wide range of divergent ideas… develop selected ideas… apply detailed feedback and self-reflection… success criteria ✅

 

Create & Improve:

Apply extensive feedback to iterate and highly refine the design ✅

 

Since the rubric strands and the success criteria are met, I believe that this is a project with many strengths, but because of time constraints, there would also be weaknesses in this design. Listed is a summary of the strengths and weaknesses:

Strengths:

  • Provides an interactive and engaging way for users to learn about scientific concepts such as gravity, motion, and energy transformation.
  • Encourages creativity and problem-solving skills as users study the marble path.
  • It is customized to fit a variety of age groups
  • Materials used are environmentally friendly and can be reused
  • A game that may boost collaboration skills
  • Suitable for all ages or skill levels as the design is made to be simple while also fun for different users.

Weaknesses:

  • May require supervision for younger users to prevent potential safety hazards such as choking or injury from small parts like the marble.
  • May require some maintenance or adjustment to keep the tracks and components functioning properly.
  • May not be portable or easy to store, such of the large size of the design
  • Stability may be another problem

How the product meets the purpose/goal:

I believe that this product successfully meets the design specification and purpose, which is to fully demonstrate energy conversion to users in different age groups from elementary students to more. Since the audience of this design is quite wide, I felt that there was a need to incorporate as many energy concepts as the marble run can show. Firstly, when the marble is placed onto the marble wheel, that is the act of giving the marble potential energy by placing it at a position where there is a distance to the ground or base. Next, by turning the wheel, the marble is set off the marble track, which shows gravitational energy as the marble falls off the wheel because gravity is pulling it down to the track. Then, the user can observe how the marble quickly rolls down the track and the initial potential energy converts to kinetic energy, the energy of motion. This also connects to the scientific concept of friction. Since the cardboard material used in the track design is smooth, there would be less friction and therefore the marble would roll down at a faster speed.

What are you most proud of? What was most challenging?

I feel that I am proud that I have completed this project as an individual with some help from the design staff and my teacher. Due to the short period of time that we were in the design center space, I found time management especially hard to manage with the slow thinking and designing process I had to go through. I had to use time outside of class to catch up, and think deeper about my design choices to ensure I do not make a mistake. I am also proud that I kept the purpose of this project and my design in mind as I faced many challenges where either the design I thought of was overly complicated or too time-consuming. This was the reason why time management was such a problem, because my design kept on changing, or adding on to different concepts. It was challenging at first, but I soon realized that this was the design thinking process, and I was on the right track to creating my design. Overall I learned to accept and record the flow of design ideas I had to further develop them to create my final design, think about this design from different angles, keep looking back at my design thinking to seek improvements and many more.

Create & Improve—Engineering Design Project

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What were some strengths? What needs refinement?

Some strengths of this design are that it meets the success criteria, shows energy transformation, and most importantly, people actually enjoyed it. This shows that this design has fully met its success criteria of working and achieving its purpose. However, I do believe that this design has a few areas for improvement such as the turning points for the marble track, and the funnel at the end. I think that the marble wheel at the top of the design was a success in functioning correctly, but I noticed that the marble would occasionally fall off the first turn point of the track, and land straight in the funnel. This shows that the turning area of the track needs to be larger, to prevent the marble from “escaping”. The funnel was intended to work as one of the highlights of the product, where the marble would roll inside the funnel and eventually “shoot out” from the end of the funnel. Yet, because of the angle of the bottle that has been used as the funnel, the marble would go straight inside the funnel, and not roll out at all. This was not a large problem for users as I observed that people would just take the marble out from the opening, however, if there would be more time for refinement, I believe this is an area that could be focused more on.

Refinements in the process:

While creating this product, feedback from my peers helped me to further think about my design choices. When I was struggling to keep the cardboard strips in the “U” shape, a peer thought of using a string or band to tie both ends toward each other. This better improved my product and influenced many more design choices later on. Having a conversation with other peers who were creating their own projects also was a great experience to share some ideas and feedback we had throughout working on the designs.

Peer feedback:

Peer 1: “I like your overall design and I think that the marble wheel part is really cool. However, I see that the first part of the marble track looks sturdy, and the other two look a bit flimsy, which may be the problem with the marble sometimes not being able to successfully roll down the track…”

Peer 2:  “This is so cool! I think that there is nothing really to say, but I noticed that there is only one supporting “stick” under the track? Maybe adding another supporting material underneath would better stabilize your design?”

Peer 3: “Some feedback that I would give you is to change the funnel part since it can be another really amazing feature in your design”

Peer 4: “I really like the whole idea of having this marble run, and I don’t have much feedback. I just was wondering if you intended to add a use or purpose to the box that is supporting the marble wheel? What features would you add to that?”

Summary of improvements to make (see pictures attached under each improvement):

  • Refine the ending two parts of the track, and change to a harder piece of cardboard
  • Add another supporting point under the track
  • Change the material of the funnel, and make more use of it
  • Add a purpose to the box, maybe have the track overlap or be inside the box?

 

 

Develop and Plan—Engineering Design Project

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The Marble Run contains three different components that utilize a variety of materials to provide users a unique and engaging experience. The first component is the marble “wheel” where the user may turn the wheel to release the marble onto the track, and then the track will guide the path of the marble through twists and turns. Once the marble reaches the end of the track, it would land in a “funnel” that would channel the marble to the final destination. Each component of the device is designed to be both durable and entertaining, ensuring that users will have fun while also learning about the principles of energy transformation.

Final product

Design thinking practices that have influenced my product: 

The first design step of defining and inquiring helped me identify my target audience of students of all grades. Some research on one of my precedents, marble mazes, has suggested that people in different age groups all equally enjoy the product. Therefore, I tried to combine some of the concepts in a marble maze. One version of that product was how the marble would land in a hole that was just right for it to “sit” on. I took that idea and put it on the “wheel”, where there is a strip with holes that would have the marble use gravity to fall onto the track. Next, I added 3 simple tracks so the marble would roll to the ending. I deliberately designed the tracks to be simple so that all age groups could use the product and find it fun. Keeping in mind both my goals and audience, helped me better visualize my final product and guide me through the creation process.

Materials:

  • 2 CDs
  • 1 cardboard strip ( with holes, 1.5cm (to place the marble in)
  • 1 rounded wooden stick, long 8cm, circumference 1.5cm (acting as a handle for the wheel to be able to turn)
  • Cardboard parts, 2 of 13cm x 7cm, 2 of 7cm x 3.5cm (to hold the marble “wheel” in place)
  • Large long rectangular box (to keep the “wheel” above the ground)
  • Marbles, 2~4
  • Cardboard strips, 8cm x 25cm (for the marble track)
  • 1 rounded wooden stick, long 25cm, circumference 1.5cm (to support the marble track)
  • 2~3 Rubber bands (to stabilize the marble track)
  • A funnel (to place at the end of the marble track

Techniques: The main technique that would be needed for this design, is learning how to use the laser cut machine, and handling the hot glue gun.

First Component: The Marble “Wheel”

The marble “wheel” component

The marble “wheel” attached to the box

These were some of my sketches:

Second Component: The Marble Track

Initially, my idea was to create a rounded track that would have the marble roll in circles, by either laser cutting, or 3D print. However, since the track would be slowly moving downwards, it would be hard to create that using those materials, time-consuming, and hard to meet the success criteria.

Therefore, after talking with the design staff, I considered using other materials as sketched below:

Looking around the design center, I found many materials that can be used, however, it would only satisfy the marble rolling in a straight line. To challenge myself, I thought of combining wooden sticks, which are used to stabilize and guide the marble towards the ending, and curved tubes so that the marbles are able to take the turns.

Initial Sketches for my product: 

My initial sketch combines all the components together and is very similar to the final product. This sketch made it easier for me to better think about the different aspects of the methods of creating this product, which later helped me into shaping the product to its final design.

This is the final sketch of my product:

The few changes I have made in my final sketches are to the marble track and the stand that would create the height between the base and the marble wheel (where the marble is first placed). I have modified the materials used to create the marble track, from wooden sticks and curved tubes to simple cardboard. Throughout the creation process, I have been exploring cardboard and I have noticed how flexible some of them are, but also at the same time, sturdy enough to keep the marble from falling off. I decided to bend the long cardboard strips to a “U” shape, so the marble can easily go through from the middle. The box that I added under the marble wheel was to ensure the stability of the pieces. While I was experimenting with the different materials, I found that adding sticks or other types of items underneath the marble wheel will not be as stable. Thinking back to my define and inquire stage, my goal is to make this design as easy as possible, since the users of this product vary in age.

Plan:

  1. Define & Inquire—Sketch out the design, and ask for teacher approval
  2. Gather all materials needed, and talk to design staff about the techniques to build the design
  3. Create the marble “wheel”, which is the component that requires the most techniques
  4. Find a box that can increase the height of the marble wheel, and ensure there is enough space for the marble track
  5. Move on building the marble track
  6. Check to make sure the marble will not fall off while it is moving, especially at the turning points of each track
  7. Stabilize the marble track with rubber bands, and add materials to support it under
  8. Create the funnel, and try out different materials that could be potentially used
  9. Cut into the right size
  10. Glue all components onto a piece of large cardboard as its base
  11. Try it out with marbles and make the according changes to the design, referencing the success criteria

Success Criteria: 

  • The marble is able to successfully make it to the end of the track
  • The spinning wheel for the marble before it gets on the track needs to be able to turn
  • The product has achieved its purpose and can fully show energy transformation

Define and Inquire—Engineering Design Project

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What is the purpose of your device/toy, how does it function, and who is your user?

The device I aim to create is a marble run that serves the purpose of both entertainment and education for students. Its primary function is to demonstrate the various types of energy used in its operation. Students can place a marble at the top of the track and observe its movement, gaining a better understanding of the process of potential to gravitational energy conversion. The device is designed to engage students and make learning about energy concepts more accessible and enjoyable. The intended users for this device are students of all ages, from elementary to high school levels.

What is the environmental impact of your product and is it durable and safe?

My product will be entirely environmentally friendly as the materials in its construction are all reused, and there are no harmful substances or components. This ensures that the product has a minimal environmental impact and is safe for use by people of all ages, especially for elementary school student users. Additionally, the product is designed to be durable, so it can withstand regular use without breaking down or deteriorating quickly.

What precedents inspired you? What did you take away from them & how did it inform your choices?

How to make a Marble maze game - YouTube

Marble Maze Game

One of the main precedents that inspired my marble run project is the labyrinth or a marble maze game. This game challenges the players to guide the marbles through a series of obstacles, using basic problem-solving skills. This precedent is not only entertaining, but also serves as an introduction to basic science principles such as gravity, motion, friction, and many more. The marble track design is influenced by this precedent, and it has largely impacted many of the choices I’ve made in creating such an engaging and educational device.

How are you making your product original and/ or using creativity?

I aim to create a marble run device that would stand out from other similar products. To achieve my goal, I plan to incorporate some design elements from my precedents and utilize the materials and tools from the design center, to create a track that would fully showcase energy transformations. Although there have been similar products like this one, I am confident the experience my product would bring will be original and unique for my target audience. By combining creativity with scientific and design concepts, I hope to create a product that is not only informative but also fun and exciting to use.

The Power of Education—Capstone Film

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The Power of Education-SophieY.mov

Above is a film made about my Capstone topic, Education. It gives a brief view of the importance of education and the reason why we should help rural children receive an education. This film is presented in a documentary style with voiceovers, visuals, and an interview to emphasize the impact. The process of making this film was enjoyable, as it not only enhanced my understanding and knowledge of this topic but also improved my creative skills from the different media I used.

 

 

Capstone Project— Unleash the Power of Education

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Imagine a 12-year-old girl named Lingling, living in a leaky hut with her 80-year-old grandma, in the remote mountains of Yunnan, China. The nearest public school is 3 hours away, so it is impossible for her to go to school. But Lingling’s dream is to become a doctor when she grows up.

Lingling and her home in Yunnan, China

According to UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), around 258 million children worldwide remain unschooled. The UN has established 17 Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) to be achieved for the improvement of life quality for all mankind, and “ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education” (SDG#4) has been featured with great priority within the seventeen goals. It is also regarded as the key to achieving many other goals, such as eliminating poverty (SDG#1). However, there is still a long way to go to fully achieve this SDG as there are still so many children out of school globally that need help.

It is of vital importance for all children, regardless of family circumstances, to receive an education because education is not merely a privilege for those who are fortunate, but rather, a basic human right for all. Getting an education not only benefits these children with acquiring knowledge and skills to support their daily lives when they grow up, which positively benefits the overall economy but also makes them better individuals. Fortunately, there have been many efforts made to develop and implement solutions to address these issues on ensuring accessible education of adequate quality.

Why Should We Care

Every child has the inalienable right of dignity, equality, and right to education. Education is a fundamental human right. There are certain fundamental rights that every human being in the world, regardless of ethnicity, gender, nationality, or social status, is inherently entitled to. These are commonly known as “human rights”. In 1948, these rights were formally declared and recognized by many countries in the “Universal Declaration on Human Rights” which was later recognized by more countries and adopted as part of their laws and regulations.

The right to education, is in fact, one of these fundamental human rights. It is also featured as SDG#4, set as a goal to ensure this fundamental right is guaranteed and enforced in all countries for all children to enjoy without discrimination. Therefore, children deserve all the help and care they need with regards to education accessibility.

According to the Rural Development Institute, “Education is considered a vital element in the development of a society, a system, and a country.” Receiving an education can better prepare students to have more job and career opportunities which would have a positive impact on the global economy, connecting to SDG#8, “decent work and economic growth”. In order for other goals to be achieved, education is crucial. It is also the solution to breaking the cycle of poverty happening around the world. Furthermore, education can help cultivate a healthier, sustainable, and peaceful community. An article from “Habitat for Humanity” describes the benefits of education to a community stating, “One needs to learn about culture, history and other important aspects so that they would be able to contribute to modern society.” This accentuates the importance of education, regardless of culture, race, and religion, pointing out how it helps with shaping a society, ensuring citizens to have the right knowledge to respect the laws to maintain peace and further lead to greater overall wealth and prosperity.

Benefits to Children

Education not only strengthens communities but also has powerful benefits on the individual level, helping children overcome their hardships and giving them a better chance to reach their potential.

Former South African president Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”  The process of learning empowers children to solve problems in their lives and to gain confidence in their abilities. Therefore, education can be seen as a weapon, a powerful and positive force for children to bring themselves and the whole world a brighter future.

Reality is, individuals without an education have poor employment opportunities and lower incomes to support themselves, resulting in low self-esteem and even a higher probability of committing crime. Education brings people hope and leads to a reduction in crime. Crime often happens when people are unfulfilled, unhappy or that they just don’t have the proper means to get what they need, such as when they cannot find a job and do not have any source of income.

In other words, a lack of education directly results in poverty and higher crime rates. On the other hand, one who has received a decent education with sufficient income to support their family can ultimately avoid many problems and have the foundational skills to overcome hardships of poverty, hunger, health, inequalities, etc. Furthermore, those are the people who have the resources and can bring better opportunities for the next generation to receive the education that they deserve, contributing to a positive cycle for society.

Receiving no education or a poor education can also mentally and physically affect an individual’s health negatively. A study cited in the article “The Impact of Illiteracy and the Importance of Early Intervention” found that, “…people with low levels of literacy are more likely to experience adverse health outcomes, have poor health literacy, and practice poor health behaviors.” When one is educated, they learn about the world, learn about themselves, and learn about the right way to properly take care of themselves and treat others.

How to Help – Practical Solutions

While the positive impact of education on both society and individuals is fairly easy to understand, there are still so many underprivileged children who face this problem, as the solutions to this major problem are still vague. Root causes ought to be identified and solutions created that are actionable and practical to ensure each child can get access to quality education.

There are many solutions offered by different organizations around the world that are doing their part to help children who are unable to get access to education. Some examples of helping with rural education were providing funding for free education or giving out scholarships to these students. Some governments or organizations support building schools in places where there are not enough schools or teachers. Some of these schools even have boarding facilities for students and teachers to live in, built to overcome the barrier of gaining “access”, especially for those who live too far away in remote rural areas.

There are many other initiatives to improve the quality of available education programs. Most familiar approaches include donating books and money to buy learning materials and building campaigns to advocate for these disadvantaged children. Every small step taken to support them, such as raising awareness or raising donations, can greatly help these children build a stronger literacy foundation.

Despite many of these efforts (building schools and improving the quality of programs), many organizations are going one step further to identify why some students are still not going to school or allowed by their parents to go to school. They are coming up with creative ways to improve the attendance rates and ensure no child is left behind without an education.

According to World Poverty Clock, a system that measures poverty progress to the SDGs, it is estimated that about 86.8 million of India’s population was living in poverty in 2021. As a result, the government developed many conventions to encourage more children to attend school. They have found that some parents were reluctant to send their children because they did not have any money left to pay for food after paying for school-related fees. After identifying this root cause, the government initiated a scheme to address the problem, “According to this scheme, students were provided free and nutritious meals in school… The scheme led to the rise in the number of students attending schools” (Borkala, 2021).  The parents were happy their financial burden has been reduced and had an incentive to send their children to school, where they are fed while being educated.

Indian students enjoying their free meal at school

Providing a free meal was not the only method for uplifting the students to attend class. The government and organizations helping also identified another reason why some students were still not coming to school – they lived too far. Consequently, these organizations started a campaign to donate bicycles to these student families, providing the students with the basic means of transportation to overcome this challenge.

Conclusion – Unleash the Power of Education

In the case of Lingling living in the rural mountains of China, fortunately, the establishment of a migrant school with boarding facilities was able to help her move one step closer to her dream. Education is a basic human right and can be transformational. Advocating for those less fortunate and eliminating obstacles they face is essential and beneficial to both society and the ones in need. Lingling’s story has shown us, with accessible education, there is hope for her to have a brighter future and for her community to break the cycle of poverty.  Unleash the power of education— helping children receive the education they deserve is necessary to create a better tomorrow for everyone.

 

 

Works Cited:

Borkala, L.K. Monu. “Rural Education in India – A Perspective.” College Marker, 13 Feb. 2021, collegemarker.com/blogs/rural-education-in-india-a-perspective/#:~:text=Realising%20one%20of%20the%20main%20reasons%20the%20rural,6%20to%2014%20have%20the%20right%20to%20education. Accessed 11 May 2022.

Habitat for Humanity. “10 Benefits Showing Why Education Is Important to Our Society.” Habitat for Humanity of Broward, Habitat for Humanity, habitatbroward.org/blog/benefits-of-education/. Accessed 26 May 2022.

Lon&Queta. Girl in Rural Yunnan China. 30 Mar. 1995. Flickr, www.flickr.com/photos/lonqueta/4043507358. Accessed 31 May 2022.

Low, Amanda, and Nicola Miranda. “The Impact of Illiteracy and the Importance of Early Intervention.” World Literacy Foundation, Nicola Miranda, 23 July 2021, worldliteracyfoundation.org/early-intervention-reduces-illiteracy/?gclid=CjwKCAjws8yUBhA1EiwAi_tpEfnq8OTjrij_0QX3HjnHkNyn8n-SKt2tzY0fNEoBXP6BLL_bL66iHBoCuJsQAvD_BwE. Accessed 29 May 2022.

Philips, Tom. “Here’s a real cliff-hanger story about some courageous Chinese students.” Newsela, Newsela staff, 6 June 2016, newsela.com/read/china-scariest-run/id/18201/?_flash_query_param_1=. Accessed 10 May 2022.

“Poverty in India Statistics 2021-2022 | Poorest State in India.” The Global Statistics, www.theglobalstatistics.com/poverty-in-india-statistics-2021/. Accessed 29 May 2022.

Sajjad, Farheen. “The role of education in rural communities.” Medium, Rural Development Institute, 14 Feb. 2019, medium.com/@rdi_77976/the-role-of-education-in-rural-communities-b478ed01b9d6. Accessed 11 May 2022.

“Sustainable Development Goals: 17 Goals to Transform our World​.” United Nations, www.un.org/en/exhibits/page/sdgs-17-goals-transform-world. Accessed 29 May 2022.

“The 10 most powerful Nelson Mandela quotes.” Department Of Arts And Culture, 5 June 2014, artsculturesa.wordpress.com/2014/06/05/the-10-most-powerful-nelson-mandela-quotes/. Accessed 31 May 2022.

“Understanding education as a right.” Right to Education, www.right-to-education.org/page/understanding-education-right. Accessed 29 May 2022.

“What you need to know about the right to education.” UNESCO, 5 May 2022, www.unesco.org/en/education/right-education/need-know. Accessed 29 May 2022.

World Bicycle Relief. “5 OF THE MOST INSPIRATIONAL NELSON MANDELA QUOTES.” World Bicycle Relief, worldbicyclerelief.org/5-of-the-most-inspirational-nelson-mandela-quotes/. Accessed 29 May 2022.

 

Former Farmer Jose’s Story of the Mexican Revolution

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Below is a historical fiction journal of a farmer who volunteered himself in the Mexican Revolution. He talks about the various challenges and conflicts he faced while rebelling against the Mexican government and the ruthless dictators. He shares his opinions and emotions throughout the revolution, explaining the real historical events that happened.

I agree with Jose that the Mexican Revolution was worth it because it forced a significant change in the government and had a cruicial impact on Mexico’s future. The revolution sparked a new generation for Mexico, including the redistribution of land to peasants and a change in labor laws. I would say that this revolution was successful because it benefited mostly the peasants and lower classes in Mexico resulting in many positive effects. The initial goal of the revolution was to overthrow the ruthless dictator Porfirto Diaz, however it slowly grew towards a major movement that requested modifications in the government. Some people would argue that it was not worth it because some historians believe that the revolution lasted longer up till 1940 since the violent attacks still continued after. However, it is still one of the most impactful movements in Mexican history because it began the Constitution of 1917, sparking education for the people who never had the opportunity to read or write. It completely reversed the original government, promoting organizations to help improve life in rural areas of the country. Therefore, I still believe that the Mexican revolution benefited the people greatly, improving their lives—which is the purpose of a successful revolution.

Land and Liberty!

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This is the Mexican Revolution in Plain English. We talk through the whole revolution from the ruthless dictator Porfírio Díaz, 1910, to the rule of Alvaro Obregon, 1920. We briefly explain the important people in the revolution with significant events. As we were filming this video, we came to the conclusion that although this revolution was a violent and bloody struggle for Mexico, it was still worth it. The peasants got their land back with new labor laws, the dictatorship was ended and a constitutional republic was soon established. As you watch our video, you may notice that almost all the leaders in the revolution were assassinated—which is a pretty interesting fact in the revolution.

We hope you enjoy our entertaining and educational video. Thank you~

Amelia Lost: Lost in the Life of an Audacious Pilot

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Amelia Lost written by Candace Fleming is a literary non-fiction book based on the first woman who flew around the world—Amelia Earhart. In third-person view, the author moves the reader back and forth in Amelia’s life, from her childhood, to her last flight with many interesting facts and stories. It features many incredible photos, maps, notes written by Amelia herself and many more informative captions and descriptions that makes this book more engaging to read. Although this story is based on real historical events, the author ties in amazing details with educational facts that make this an uncommon and unique non-fiction book.

Below are my thinking from book club discussions and reading:

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The first idea that our book club discovered was gender equality which was the most reoccurring issue in the book. Amelia’s childhood was full of discriminating thoughts on the expectations of men and women, which shaped her into who she is recognised for—being bold, audacious and being different from the expectations. Attached below, is my synthesized mind map that shows my thinking of gender stereotypes, and evidence to support it:

As I read deeper into the book, learning more about Amelia’s family and herself, many conflicts in the relationship between her and her family have been revealed more. I noticed many examples that suggests trust as one of the most vital components in a healthy and strong relationship. These conflicts also further displays more characteristics Amelia has such as being very strong and determined. Below is another mind map that supports my thinking:

More further reading allowed me to make more connections between the different events that happened in Amelia’s life. As Amelia was getting more fame, she made innumerable achievements throughout her life, eternally being passionate for flying, which led to greater success in her flying career. Below is a ‘Cause and Effect’ diagram that suggests many effects from situations such as World War II and family issues that affected Amelia’s life and career:

After finishing the book, I decided to do some further research on Amelia’s education during that time period where gender was discriminated. These schools, the Ogontz School and Columbia University, were all introduced to the reader by the author many times. The common feature both school has is that they both offer a variety of classes which was quite uncommon during their period, as many people were still judging women by their gender. The features of each school from my research connects back to several central ideas and themes of the story which gives me a better understanding of the book and the reason behind the details of these schools. Below are some of my research notes:

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In conclusion, “Amelia Lost” is an engaging and inspiring book with many surprising facts and stories. Thank you for looking through my post, if you are interested, be sure to find time to check out this incredible book:)

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