Resources
Resources
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This page lists additional resources to help you find materials for your Tech Challenge solution; learn about federal and state standards and how they relate to our program; and find out more about how The Tech Challenge can help students develop 21st-century skills.
Educator Resources
Launch. Land. Expand! Lessons
Aim High!
Explore angles and trajectories to determine optimal angle and height to launch a paper rocket through a target.
Duration: 75 minutes
Grades: 4-12
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Brainstorming Ideas
Teams brainstorm and conceptualize a device that expands.
Duration: 60 minutes
Grades: 4-12
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Just Dropping In
Explore how expansion is related to movement by designing a device that controls the movement of a dropped ball.
Duration: 65 minutes
Grades: 4-12
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You Do the Math
Calculate the volume of regular objects and practice measuring and calculating the volume of irregular objects.
Duration: 55 minutes
Grades: 3-9
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Standards
There are many ways to relate The Tech Challenge to what your students are doing in the classroom.
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
The Tech Challenge aligns with the engineering design standards, a core idea of California Education Standards for K-12.
The design process — engineers’ basic approach to problem-solving — involves many practices. They include problem definition, model development and use, investigation, analysis and interpretation of data, application of mathematics and computational thinking, and determination of solutions. These engineering practices incorporate specialized knowledge about criteria and constraints, modeling and analysis, and optimization and trade-offs.
Read the engineering design standards:
More about engineering design from NGSS (PDF)
Common Core State Standards (CCSS)
What is the difference between the Common Core State Standards for Literacy in Science and the NGSS?
The CCSS Literacy Standards were written to help students meet the particular challenges of reading, writing, speaking, listening and language in various fields — in this case, science. The literacy standards do not replace science standards; they supplement them. The NGSS lays out the core ideas and practices in science that students should master in preparation for college and careers.
The Tech Challenge aligns with standards in reading, writing, speaking and reading.
21st-Century Skills
The Tech Challenge helps students build 21st-century skills such as critical thinking, communication and teamwork. To learn more about 21st-century skills, click here.
Student Resources
Safety Tips
Watch our YouTube series to learn how to safely use tools that you'll need to build your device.
Practice Judge Interview Questions
- Tell me about:
- your brainstorming.
- the source of your ideas.
- how you worked as a team.
- how you tested your solution.
- What idea did you choose as your solution? Why?
- How would your design work in real life?
- What did you choose to document in your journal? Why?
- How did each of you contribute?
- How did you build your solution?
- Tell me about your failures.
Templates and Template Samples
Supplies
To search for materials to build your device, start with:
- Things from your home.
- Local garage sales.
- Dollar stores.
- Goodwill and Salvation Army stores.
Other options you may wish to consider:
Ace Hardware
Click here for locations.
AeroMicro
2090 Duane Ave
Santa Clara, CA 95054
1-408-496-6699
Al Lasher’s Electronics
Closed Sunday and Tuesday.
1734 University Ave
Berkeley, CA 94703
1-510-843-5915
Excess Solutions
1555 S. 7th St
San Jose, CA 95112
(408) 262-3900
Fry’s Electronics
Click here for online store and locations.
Home Depot
Click here for locations.
Jameco
1355 Shoreway Rd
Belmont, CA 94002
1-800-831-4242
Lowe’s
Click here for locations.
Marin Hobby & Gift
224 Greenfield Ave Ste 2
San Anselmo, CA 94960
1-415-454-3087
Resource Area for Teaching (RAFT)
This store is open only to educators. Ask your teacher if he or she is a member.
1355 Ridder Park Drive
San Jose, CA 95131
408-451-1420
San Jose Scientific
1043 Di Giulio Ave
Santa Clara, CA 95050
1-408-727-7301
Sheldon’s Hobbies
2130 Trade Zone Blvd
San Jose, CA 95131
(408) 943-0220
Tap Plastics
Click here for locations.
Online stores
American Science and Surplus
Science First
Kelvin Educational
sci-supply
Vocabulary
Adviser: A person at least 18 years old who monitors safety, acts as a mentor and who may provide things like transportation and snacks. Your team should only have one adviser, and he or she shouldn't give you all the answers or do the project for you.
Altitude: the vertical elevation of an object above a surface (such as sea level or land) of a planet or natural satellite.
Antenna: An electrical device that sends or receives radio or television signals.
Apparatus: A set of materials or equipment designed for a particular use.
Arc: An arc is a smoothly curving line or movement. The path your device takes will be an arc.
Area: The area of a surface such as a piece of land is the amount of flat space or ground that it covers, measured in square units.
Autonomous: undertaken or carried on without outside control : self:contained.
Brainstorming: Coming up with ideas — sometimes crazy ones — for a solution to a problem. It's possible to brainstorm on your own, but most find it works best as a team activity.
Chemical reaction: A process in which one or more substances are changed into others. Chemical reactions are not allowed in this year's challenge.
Compressed air: Air held under pressure in a container: the force generated when the air is released is used to operate machines, tools, etc. For the Tech Challenge, we limit the amount of pressure allowed from compressed air to 5 psi (pounds per square inch).
Constraints: A control or limit to a design. For example, a constraint in the 2020 challenge is that your device cannot have a chemical reaction.
Deployable structure: A deployable structure is a structure that can change shape so as to significantly change its size. You will be launching deployable structures for Launch. Land. Expand!
Design: The creation of a plan for the construction of your device. Sometimes used to refer to the device itself.
Device: The gizmo you and your team are designing, engineering and building for The Tech Challenge.
Dimension: A dimension is a measurement such as length, width, or height. If you talk about the dimensions of an object or place, you are referring to its size and proportions.
Elevation: The angular altitude of any object above the horizon
Engineer: A person who designs, constructs and tests devices, materials and systems while considering constraints caused by safety, practicality, rules and cost.
Engineering analysis: Looking at a problem using scientific analytic principles and processes so you can see the properties of what you are designing. To start, break down a problem into its basic parts to look at relationships between its pieces and things other than your device.
Engineering Design Process: A series of steps engineers follow when creating devices, products or processes. Once you get started, the steps don't have to be followed in order. For example, if your device fails, your team can always go back to brainstorming to solve that problem. We use ScienceBuddies.org's chart to talk about the Engineering Design Process.
Engineering journal: A record of all the brainstorming, research, prototyping and other work that goes into developing your team's device.
Envelope: The acceptable size of an item. Think of it like this: you have a box that measures 24" x 24" x 24". You want to ship a bunch of shoes to a friend but you can't close the lid. Then your box is too small and your stuff isn't within the envelope.
Equipment: The special things needed for some purpose; supplies, furnishings, apparatus, etc.
Expand: Extend in one or more directions
Exoplanet: A planet which orbits a star outside the solar system.
Facility: Buildings, pieces of equipment, or services that are provided for a particular purpose.
Failure: Sometimes you feel this when your device doesn't work, but a big part of engineering is finding failure points and fixing them. So running into a roadblock with your device is an opportunity to use your engineering brain to make your device even better.
Failure point: When a break in a system causes a device to work improperly or not work at all. One of the jobs of an engineer is to find failure points so they can fix them, and it's one of the reasons we test again and again.
Final design: The final plan for the construction of your device, agreed upon by the whole team. The team develops the final plan after brainstorming, prototyping and testing again and again. Sometimes this term is used instead of Final Device.
Final device: The device your team will bring to the showcase — the product of all your team's brainstorming, designing, prototyping, testing and re-testing.
Gravity: The force caused when the mass of physical bodies attract one another. In other words, the force that keeps us and all our stuff from zooming off into space.
Habitat: A housing for a controlled physical environment in which people can live under surrounding inhospitable conditions.
Human power: Power available from or supplied by the physical effort of human beings
Innovator: Someone who creates something new or makes changes to something that already exists in order to meet a specific need. For example, you and your team as you design, engineer and build a device to survive a drop and travel some distance without using batteries.
Iteration: The different versions of the device you build as it changes due to the Engineering Design Process.
Landing: The act of coming to land after a voyage.
Launch: To propel with force.
Launch pad: A platform from which a rocket, launch vehicle, or guided missile can be launched.
Launch device or launcher: A device that launches aircraft, rockets, and satellites. For the 2020 Tech Challenge, teams bring their own launch device.
Living document: A document that is continually being updated. For example, your engineering journal.
Mechanism: A device consisting of a piece of machinery; has moving parts that perform some function.
Momentum: A measurement of mass in motion. Any object in motion has momentum.
Moon: A natural satellite of a planet
Nominal: Approximate; that is, there may be minor variances between the measurements stated in the rules and drawings and the actual test rig, for example.
Orientation: Position or alignment relative to points of the compass or other specific directions.
Payload: The payload of an aircraft or spacecraft is the amount or weight of things or people that it is carrying.
Perpendicular: Being at right angles to a given line or plane.
Perseverance: Not giving up in the face of failure. Your team may experience setbacks, but it doesn't have to give up. Getting past those failures can be fun and rewarding.
Physics: The study of matter, forces and their effects. Basically, the study of everything in the universe.
Pit: The area where, during the showcase days in April, you and your team will make your final preparations before judging.
Planet: Any of the large bodies that revolve around the sun in the solar system or a similar body associated with another star.
Prototype: A first full-scale and usually functional form of a new type or design of a construction.
Remote Control: A device or mechanism for controlling something from a distance. Remote control is not allowed for this year's devices.
Repeatability: The ability of your device to demonstrate the same results under the same conditions, i.e. to work every time you test it.
Retrieve: To get and bring back. For safety reasons, teams cannot retrieve their devices during the 2020 Tech Challenge.
Safety: Your No. 1 priority! Safety involves using tools correctly, wearing your hardhat and goggles when working on and testing your device, and more. While your team should appoint a safety monitor, everyone on the team is responsible for safety!
Satellite: Any celestial body orbiting around a planet or star.
Solar array: A collection of solar panels.
Solar cell: A cell that converts solar energy into electrical energy.
Solar panel: A battery of solar cells (as on a rooftop).
Solution: The design your team builds for The Tech Challenge.
Specifications: Detailed descriptions of design criteria for a piece of work.
Speed: How fast an object moves. If you're trying to figure out how long a ball will take to get somewhere, speed doesn't tell the whole story - you also need a direction. See VELOCITY for more info.
Structure: A thing constructed; a complex entity constructed of many parts.
Spirit of the Challenge: The Tech Challenge emphasizes the importance of engineering solutions that would be practical in real life. Test rigs involve small-scale replication of real-world conditions. Teams should develop designs that represent real-life solutions. The Spirit of the Challenge is an important factor in scoring. The best engineering journals document an understanding of real-world factors and contain a detailed explanation of how your design might have practical, real-life applications. Teams should expect judges to press them on this issue and will be asked questions such as “How would your design work in real life?” A good explanation of how their design approach is compatible with the Spirit of the Challenge will have a positive influence on the team’s score. While store-bought solutions are not prohibited, they are not in the Spirit of the Challenge.
Test Rig: The thing your team will test its device on. The Tech Challenge designs an official test rig. We also design a simple version you can build so you can test at home or school. <add link>
Tether: A rope, cord, etc. fastened to something to control movement. In the 2020 challenge, tethers are not allowed between devices and launchers
Transfer of Energy: Work transfers energy from one object to another. Example: when you throw that ball you're transferring energy from your hand to the ball.
Trigger: A device that activates or releases or causes something to happen. After device setup, human power may start movement by releasing/pushing/pulling a trigger but not by pushing, pulling or lifting the device itself. This is also an important safety factor.
Vehicle: A means of carrying or transporting something; a conveyance that transports people or objects.
Velocity: The rate of motion in a specific direction. A great baseball pitcher might throw the ball at 100 miles-per-hour. This is the velocity of the ball because it's going in a particular direction (if you throw a ball it has to go somewhere, right?)
Volume: The amount of space occupied by a three-dimensional object as measured in cubic units (such as quarts or liters): cubic capacity.
Weight: The combined load of an aircraft, crew, fuel and cargo. Weight pulls an aircraft downward because of the force of gravity.
Weight Limit: Regulation establishing the maximum weight of an object, person, or device.
Sources: Collins Dictionary, Wikipedia, Physics4Kids.com; Ducksters; Kids ESB; Ron Kurtus' School for Champions; Britannica.com; BritannicaKids.com; KidsNet.AU, http://www.engineering-dictionary.org, Vocabulary.com, Merriam-Webster.com
Websites
Kinetic energy calculator
This kinetic energy calculator is a tool which helps you assess the energy of motion.
Projectile Motion Calculator
An online calculator that looks at velocity and projectile motion.
Web based trebuchet simulator
A virtual trebuchet site.
Mechanical Invention through Computation 3-dimensional Expanding Structures
A Powerpoint that focuses on expanding structures.
NASA’s Ballistic Flight Calculator
A fun tool for learning about spaceflight and important factors such as drag and velocity.
MIT Trajectory Calculations
Lab notes on trajectory from class at MIT.
Amazon expandable storage unit house
Check out an amazing expandable house for sale on Amazon!
Exoplanet Exploration: Planets beyond our solar system
NASA’s page for all things exoplanet.
Engineergirl.org
A site from the National Academy of Science that focuses on girls and engineering.
Books and Videos
These books are either available at your local library or inexpensively through Amazon.
ENGINEERING
Cook, Eric
“Prototyping (21st Century Skills Innovation Library: Makers as Innovators)”
Cherry Lake Publishing, 2015.
Grades 4-8
Eboch, M.M.
“Mechanical Engineering in the Real World (STEM in the Real World Set 2)”
Core Library, 2016.
Grades 3-6
Fontichiaro, Kristin
“Prototyping (21st Century Skills Innovation Library: Makers as Innovators)”
Cherry Lake Publishing, 2015
Grades 4-8
Hunt, Sharon
“Engineered!: Engineering Design Work”
Kids Can Press, 2017
Grades 3-7
May, Vicki V.
“Engineering: Cool Women Who Design”
Nomad Press, 2016
Grades 3-7
May, Vicki V.
“3-D Engineering: Design and Build Your Own Prototypes”
Nomad Press, 2015
Grades 3-7
Mercer, Bobby
“Junk Drawer Engineering”
Chicago Review Press, 2017
Grades 4-6
SIMPLE MACHINES/DIY
Akiyama, Lance
“Rubber Band Engineer: Build Slingshot Powered Rockets, Rubber Band Rifles, Unconventional Catapults, and More Guerrilla Gadgets from Household Hardware”
Rockport Publishers, 2016
Grades 4 and up
Akiyama, Lance
“Duct Tape Engineer: The Book of Big, Bigger, and Epic Duct Tape Projects”
Rockport Publishers, 2017
Grades 4 and up
Branwyn, Gareth
“Make: Tips and Tales from the Workshop: A Handy Reference for Makers”
Maker Media Inc, 2013
Grades 7-12
Gabrielson, Curt
“Kinetic Contraptions: Build a Hovercraft, Airboat and More With a Hobby Motor”
Chicago Review Press, 2010
Grades 6-7
Gabrielson, Curt
“Stomp Rockets, Catapults, and Kaleidoscopes: 30+ Amazing Science Projects You Can Build for Less than $1”
Chicago Review Press, 2008
Grades 4-6
Gabrielson, Curt
“Tinkering: Kids Learn by Making Stuff”
Maker Media Inc, 2015
Grades 4-6
Holzweiss, Kristina A.
“Amazing Makerspace DIY Fliers”
Children’s Press, 2017
Grades 3-7
Holzweiss, Kristina A.
“Amazing Makerspace DIY Movers”
Children’s Press, 2017
Grades 3-7
Holzweiss, Kristina A.
“Amazing Makerspace DIY BAsic Machines”
Children’s Press, 2017
Grades 3-7
Grades 2-5
PHYSICS/FLIGHT
Gardner, Jane
“Physics (investigate the Mechanics of Nature)”
Nomad Press, 2014
Grades 6-12
Gurstelle, William
“The Art of the Catapult: Build Greek Ballistae, Roman Onagers, English Trebuchets, and More Ancient Artillery”
Chicago Review Press, 2004
Grades 5 and up
Holzner Ph.D., Steven
“Physics Essentials for Dummies”
Wiley Publishing, 2010
Grades 5 and up
Silver, Jerry
“125 Physics Projects for the Evil Genius”
McGraw Hill, 2009
Grades 6-12
Wood. Matthew Brenden
“Projectile Science: The Physics Behind Kicking a Field Goal and Launching a Rocket with Science Activities for Kids (Build It Yourself)”
Nomad Press, 2018
Grades 4-10
SPACE
Aldrin, Buzz and Marianne Dyson
“Welcome to Mars: Making a Home on the Red Planet”
National Geographic, 2015
Grades 3-6
Lee, Pascal
“Mission: Mars”
Scholastic, 2013
Grades 3-6
Motum, Markus
“Curiosity: The Story of a Mars Rover”
Candlewick Press, 2018
Grades 3-6
Stott, Carol
“DK Eyewitness Books: Space Exploration: Blast into Space and Hitch a Ride on the Earliest Rockets and the Latest Probes”
DK Publishing, 2014
Grades 3-7
Williams, Dr. Dave and Loredana Cunti
“Mighty Mission Machines: From Rockets to Rovers”
Annick Press, 2018
Grades 3-7
TOOLS
Gregory, Josh
“Hammers”
Cherry Lake Publishing, 2013
Grades K-5
Gregory, Josh
“Screwdrivers”
Cherry Lake Publishing, 2013
Grades K-5
Gregory, Josh
“Drills”
Cherry Lake Publishing, 2013
Grades K-5
Marsico, Katie
“Pliers”
Cherry Lake Publishing, 2013
Grades K-5
Marsico, Katie
“Saws”
Cherry Lake Publishing, 2013
Grades K-5
ORIGAMI/POP-UPS
Beech, Rick
“Origami You can Use: 27 Practical Projects”
Dover Publications, 2009
Grades 6 and up
Birmingham, Duncan
“Pop-Up Design and Paper Mechanics: How to Make Folding Paper Sculpture “
GMC Publications, 2019
Grades 6 and up
Hiebert, Helen
“Playing with Pop-ups: The Art of Dimensional, Moving Paper Designs”
Quarry Books, 2014
Grades 6 and up
Ives, Rob
“Paper Engineering & Pop-ups For Dummies”
For Dummies, 2009
Grades 6 and up
VIDEOS
INFORMATIONAL VIDEOS
How a Harvard Professor Makes Transforming Toys & Designs
Chuck Hoberman's eponymous sphere is one of the best-loved toys of the last quarter century.
How NASA Engineers Use Origami To Design Future Spacecraft
NASA is using origami to build a giant star blocker in hopes of imaging distant worlds.
Paper Tubes Make Stiff Origami Structures
From shipping and construction to outer space, origami could put a folded twist on structural engineering.
How Origami is Inspiring Scientific Creativity, with BYU and Origami Artist Robert Lang
Ancient origami inspires surprising modern innovations like solar arrays for NASA.
Novel Deployable Structure
An example of a self-synchronized deployable mechanism, produced by an academic partner of Oxford Space Systems.
What is an Engineer?
The first episode of Crash Course Engineering explains what engineering is, and gives a brief overview of its four main branches (civil, mechanical, electrical, and chemical) as well as a look at some of the other fields of engineering.
Mechanical Engineering
A look at mechanical engineering, beginning with the steam engine and moving on to discuss aircraft, the development of aerospace engineering, and take a look into the future of robotics and biomechanics.
The Engineering Process: Crash Course Kids
This episode of Crash Course Kids talks about the Engineering Process and why we should do things in order, as well as many of the questions we should ask along the way.
Exoplanets: Crash Course Astronomy #27
YES, there are other planets out there and astronomers have a lot of methods for detecting them.
Origami robots that reshape and transform themselves
Taking design cues from origami, robotician Jamie Paik and her team created "robogamis": folding robots made out super-thin materials that can reshape and transform themselves.
Bill Nye Explains the Science Behind Solar Sails
The solar sail is propelled only by sunlight, and its technology holds promise for early detection of major events in space, as well as travel across vast distances.
LightSail solar sail deployment test
LightSail's solar sails deploy during spacecraft testing at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
NASA's Starshade Is Like a Giant Visor for the Stars
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory has come up with an ingenious solution to take better photographs of ultra-bright stars; a baseball diamond-sized folding shade that blocks out a star's powerful rays.
A Twist on Engineering: Origami "Zipped Tube" Prototypes Offer New Structural Options
Researchers developed an origami “zippered tube” folding pattern that allows them to build structures with much greater stiffness than a single sheet of paper.
Beam me up — NASA experiments with inflatable modules
In the case of the ISS, it was an inflatable Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM). It’s made of a material stronger than kevlar and could be a game-changer.
TUTORIAL VIDEOS
Kinematics Part 3: Projectile Motion
Things don't always move in one dimension, they can also move in two dimensions.
How to Make a Cardboard Prototype
Building a prototype is an important part of the engineering design process.
Make A Mini Wooden Ballista Catapult
Made with craft sticks and string.
Things to Make on a Rainy Day
Project inspired by the Hoberman sphere.
Tech Tools: Basic Safety
Basic safety from your friends at The Tech Challenge.
Tech Tools: How to use a utility knife
Utility knives, or box cutters, are perfect for making small precise cuts on thin material. Learn how to use this excellent tool with Abby Longcor, senior director of The Tech Challenge.
Tech Tools: How to use a hammer
Bet you're thinking, "A hammer? Of, course I know how to use a hammer!" But, just when you think you've nailed it, BAM, bruised thumb. Luckily, here's safety advice from Abby Longcor, senior director of The Tech Challenge.
Tech Tools: How to use a hand saw
Let's cut through all the back and forth to get down to safety! Hand saws are simple to use, or misuse, so listen carefully to Abby Longcor, senior director of The Tech Challenge.
Tech Tools: How to use a power drill
Here's a bit of advice we hope you don't find boring. Learn how to safely use a power drill with Abby Longcor, senior director of The Tech Challenge
LONG VIDEOS
The Origami Revolution: NOVA
Engineers are using origami to design drugs, micro-robots, and future space missions.
Bigelow Aerospace Is Building The World's First Space Hotel
Bigelow is building inflatable space habitats. One is connected to the International Space Station.
HELPFUL YOUTUBE CHANNELS
JUST FOR FUN
Marvel's Spider-Man | Spider Science | Trajectory | Official Disney XD Africa
A fun video with Spiderman and trajectory.
China Expandable Container House
See a tiny house expand.
Home Unfolds Within 10 Minutes
Could the future bring expandable homes?
Projectile Motion & Parabolas - Science of NFL Football
NBC's Lester Holt looks at the science of projectile motion and parabolas with the help of former NFL punter Craig Hentrich.
