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LOGO-L> W&M unit descriptions



Magholm@aol.com
Sat, 26 Aug 1995 09:58:14 -0400

Here's some of the information you asked for. Much of it I have copied from
postings on GiftedNet since the W&M units are often used by G/T classes. I
added the Lego Logo references, tho'.
"Electricity City" is a problem-based science unit from William and Mary
that involves students in replicating an electrical problem that might occur
in their city. Within the unit students study: 1) the concept of systems, 2)
the content of electricity and circuit components, and 3) scientific process
through problem-based learning and experimentation. In order to replicate a
possible problem, students build a scale model of part of their city and wire
it with an electrical system. Then, a big storm comes along and destroys
their work. Each group, acting as though they are newly hired employees of
the electric co., must rebuild a different group's section of the city by
following their diagrams. In theory one could use the Lego Logo system to
create a working electric setup with traffic lights and whatever else the
kids could think of. One group of students in Fort Worth set up a zoo as part
of the city. One could make alarm systems to keep the animals safe for
example.

In Planet X, humans were planning on colonizing a new planet, but they first
had to fix the ecosystem. One group of scientist was sent off with an
ecosystem set to try out, but for some reason they quit before they got to
Planet X. The students are supposed to plan a new ecosystem based on the
work of the other scientists. I used the idea of Legos on Mars which I
downloaded from ERIC lesson plans last year. The 4th grade is going to be
looking at ecosystems of the Arctic, Rainforest and Desert in class so I
might slant the Mars unit to talk about how we could terraform (or whatever)
Mars and what machines we could make with Legos, program with Logo so that we
could get Mars ready before we send people there.

The William & Mary http address is http:/www.wm.edu/
To gopher direct: gopher.wm.edu ; from the Gopher menu item "All Other
Gophers in the World" follow
the path: North America -> USA -> Virginia -> William & Mary
Info -> School of Education -> Center for Gifted Education

--Enjoy,
Maggie

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