Davis Creek Elementary
Fall 2000 LEGO Projects

This is a journal for the second fall 2000 LEGO Project of Davis Creek Elementary fifth grade.  Davis Creek Elementary participates in a West Virginia Space Grant Consortium K12 Outreach Grant that affords them the expertise of Mrs. Linda Hamilton, mathematics instructor at Marshall University, and the use of LEGO educational materials.  Students build simple machines using LEGO sets that feature gears, pulleys, motors, levers, and wheels and axles.  For this second project students use an RCX, sensing equipment, ROBO LAB software, and a lap top computer to measure the decibels in their classroom.  The resulting graph shows the startling results.  Some students were surprised at the high level of sound in a normal, fairly quiet classroom.  Students will later participate in whole language activities that include building simple machines, writing up their accounts, and using LEGO CAD to make a lasting virtual model of their machine as well.  Robots are built utilizing light, sound, and motion sensors, also with microcomputers that are used by students in various schools around the world to teleoperate robots manipulating and analyzing data.  The Planetary Society sponsors the Mars Red Rover Program that is connected through NASA educational centers around the United States, and, indeed, throughout the world.  Students may drive the Mars Red Rover via the internet.
Just How Loud Is It In Our Classroom?
Sensing Equipment With RCX Measures Decibels
Checking The Resulting Graph of Sound Level Input
Mrs. Hamilton and DC 5th Grade Students work to set up a data processing, graphing program to test the decibel level in their classroom.
Graph Of Sound Level
Collecting Sound Data
Uploading Data For Graphing Result
Demonstration
Another View of Graph
Participating 5th Grade Students Demonstrating Quiet Classroom
Normal Classroom Noise
Davis Creek Elementary
DC LEGO Site Map
Linda's LEGO Links

Created Fall 2000
Linda Hamilton & Sharon Simon