PROJECTS OF 9TH GRADE
Greek Inventions - Cranes
3 way perspectives of the final sketches:
Greek Inventions - Cranes
3 way perspectives of the final sketches:
It was important to have the measurements for the drawings before we made our prototypes because if you just guess it can seriously mess up your
model(s).
Our Prototype -
Challenges: [Look at the first bottom paragraph for some more challenges.] There weren't that many challenges we faced when we made our prototype. I think it was just when we made the dimensions, there were many times where we had to go back and fix them because they turned out wrong (like too big or it didn't make sense). In the picture it also looks kind of crooked.
Successes: I would say that our prototype was one of the greatest successes we had over this project because once we had the dimensions right, everything was set. Our prototype worked better than our actual model because we didn't hot glue the rope onto the metal tube so it kept sliding.
I think the sketches of our model/prototype was pretty accurate. The only thing that was not there [that I think we needed to have], was the platform we laid out on the bottom. Not until we made our final model is when we were told we had to have the platform in order for it to stand up straight by itself without falling. So we kind of messed up there, but when we got to building the model, it didn't quite look the way we thought it would. When we were outside building the model, some things weren't working so we tried our best to get it done, but didn't look a whole bunch like the prototypes and sketches we had originally made.
I think it's important to make a prototype before you make a final model because if you make the prototype and find some sort of error in it, you can always go back and make necessary changes. Same goes for sketches.
Challenges: [Look at the first bottom paragraph for some more challenges.] There weren't that many challenges we faced when we made our prototype. I think it was just when we made the dimensions, there were many times where we had to go back and fix them because they turned out wrong (like too big or it didn't make sense). In the picture it also looks kind of crooked.
Successes: I would say that our prototype was one of the greatest successes we had over this project because once we had the dimensions right, everything was set. Our prototype worked better than our actual model because we didn't hot glue the rope onto the metal tube so it kept sliding.
I think the sketches of our model/prototype was pretty accurate. The only thing that was not there [that I think we needed to have], was the platform we laid out on the bottom. Not until we made our final model is when we were told we had to have the platform in order for it to stand up straight by itself without falling. So we kind of messed up there, but when we got to building the model, it didn't quite look the way we thought it would. When we were outside building the model, some things weren't working so we tried our best to get it done, but didn't look a whole bunch like the prototypes and sketches we had originally made.
I think it's important to make a prototype before you make a final model because if you make the prototype and find some sort of error in it, you can always go back and make necessary changes. Same goes for sketches.
Our Final Model -
Successes: I think the biggest success in building the final model was getting it done. The final model was way harder than the prototype because for the prototype you're just using cardboard or plastic and taping it all together. But the final model, you have to use nails, screws, tools, and a whole bunch of crazy stuff that we didn't know how to use before. I'm proud of myself for being able to use power tools and help my teammates finish the final model.
Challenges: Challenges in making the final model was definitely finishing this final model! We were proud of it and it was also a success, but the process took us a while to finish it. We all were sort of new at the whole power tools and safety of this project was intimidating but it was better when we got the hang of it. I would say, personally, another challenge was making the
Google sketch up. Originally I wasn't supposed to do it, and I was gone for 2 days so I had less time than everyone else to finish. But I did it, and it turned out pretty good.
Our group had to make a lot of changes to our final model that we didn't have in our prototype or drawings. I think the prototype was easier to build because it we used cardboard and hot glue to make it. But for the final model, we used wood, screws, and power tools. It was way heavier than the prototype. So, as you can see, we had to attach rope to the wood onto the platform to hold it up because it was too heavy. The width of the prototype vs. the final model is larger. We cut the wood at the top and it got smaller and smaller so we had to stop and just screw it together because we didn't have enough time to go back and fix it. I think its also the way that we cut the 2 pieces of wood holding the tube because it goes inwards towards you but it was suppose to slant so that it goes towards each other.
From building the model using power tools, I learned that you always have to be safe, and not mess around. It's dangerous equipment and we even had an accident in class where someone was paying attention to the saw they were using and accidentally cut them a little bit:( So always make sure to take the tools seriously. You also should wear the safety goggles so that nothing flies into your eye [like the wood dust, smoke, any electrical things].
In the group, my main job was to get the Google sketch up done. At first I didn't think I could do it and I didn't know where to start. It seemed so complicated, but with a little help from some people and just messing around with it, I got it done. It was basically a 3D version of our crane before we made it. So after you make the rough draft sketches, you can make a Google sketch up and it gives you different perspectives. Unfortunately, I saved my Google sketch up on the school documents, and after winter break it was deleted!
Successes: I think the biggest success in building the final model was getting it done. The final model was way harder than the prototype because for the prototype you're just using cardboard or plastic and taping it all together. But the final model, you have to use nails, screws, tools, and a whole bunch of crazy stuff that we didn't know how to use before. I'm proud of myself for being able to use power tools and help my teammates finish the final model.
Challenges: Challenges in making the final model was definitely finishing this final model! We were proud of it and it was also a success, but the process took us a while to finish it. We all were sort of new at the whole power tools and safety of this project was intimidating but it was better when we got the hang of it. I would say, personally, another challenge was making the
Google sketch up. Originally I wasn't supposed to do it, and I was gone for 2 days so I had less time than everyone else to finish. But I did it, and it turned out pretty good.
Our group had to make a lot of changes to our final model that we didn't have in our prototype or drawings. I think the prototype was easier to build because it we used cardboard and hot glue to make it. But for the final model, we used wood, screws, and power tools. It was way heavier than the prototype. So, as you can see, we had to attach rope to the wood onto the platform to hold it up because it was too heavy. The width of the prototype vs. the final model is larger. We cut the wood at the top and it got smaller and smaller so we had to stop and just screw it together because we didn't have enough time to go back and fix it. I think its also the way that we cut the 2 pieces of wood holding the tube because it goes inwards towards you but it was suppose to slant so that it goes towards each other.
From building the model using power tools, I learned that you always have to be safe, and not mess around. It's dangerous equipment and we even had an accident in class where someone was paying attention to the saw they were using and accidentally cut them a little bit:( So always make sure to take the tools seriously. You also should wear the safety goggles so that nothing flies into your eye [like the wood dust, smoke, any electrical things].
In the group, my main job was to get the Google sketch up done. At first I didn't think I could do it and I didn't know where to start. It seemed so complicated, but with a little help from some people and just messing around with it, I got it done. It was basically a 3D version of our crane before we made it. So after you make the rough draft sketches, you can make a Google sketch up and it gives you different perspectives. Unfortunately, I saved my Google sketch up on the school documents, and after winter break it was deleted!
Greek Playwriting
Requirements for the project:
With our partner, we had to come up with an idea for a play and present it to the class (which was called our proposal). The proposal consisted of the plot outline and a chorus and we chose our roles. For our plays, we had to choose a social issue and a human flaw. Later we began the rough drafts. Everyday, we had to come up with a draft of the storyboard (you either had to draw or write depending on the job you had). We had construct a script identical to the format of a Greek playwright. So we had a prologue, parados, scenes 1&2, and choruses.
With our partner, we had to come up with an idea for a play and present it to the class (which was called our proposal). The proposal consisted of the plot outline and a chorus and we chose our roles. For our plays, we had to choose a social issue and a human flaw. Later we began the rough drafts. Everyday, we had to come up with a draft of the storyboard (you either had to draw or write depending on the job you had). We had construct a script identical to the format of a Greek playwright. So we had a prologue, parados, scenes 1&2, and choruses.
The play my partner and I made was called Immigration Nation. The human flaw was obviously immigration, fear, and there was also a little deceit [lying, misleading, tricking, etc.]. We had quite a big list of characters and the main ones were Javier, Vanessa, Ling, Federico, Carter, and Mary. Most of them except for Carter and Mary are immigrants and they come to work at this restaurant called Köstlich. Carter's father was a German immigrant and passed the restaurant over to him. When carter finds Vanessa and Javier outside, lets them in and he offers them a job. Carter's wife, Mary, is against immigrants because she is afraid that they would come over to America and will put Americans out of work for stealing jobs. One of the awful things she did was secretly called the police and got Ling arrested. She later did the same thing to Federico, and tried it on Javier, but she failed. Carter finds out what Mary is up to, and helps Javier and Vanessa get to another place [to live and work] without getting caught by Mary. But not everything goes right in the end.
I made the story board for our play. I thought this was a really fun. We got to make a story of basically whatever we wanted as long as it wasn't about violence, drugs, gangs, etc. At first we chose to do our play based on deceit and war. But we had a lot of problems with our storyline, so we completely changed the whole thing. The new theme was fear and immigration.
I drew the outline of the storyboards everyday for homework. I'm really thankful for my partner, Anna, for pulling the project together when I was sick
and helping me understand what was going on. I'm really proud that our play won 2nd place! But if I had to change anything about the project it'd be my lack of input for the script because when I was absent was
when my partner was changing the script I didn't have any say in it until after I came back.
and helping me understand what was going on. I'm really proud that our play won 2nd place! But if I had to change anything about the project it'd be my lack of input for the script because when I was absent was
when my partner was changing the script I didn't have any say in it until after I came back.
Below, are copies of my play scenes, prologue, and parados. Enjoy!
parados1.doc | |
File Size: | 24 kb |
File Type: | doc |
prologue__1.doc | |
File Size: | 24 kb |
File Type: | doc |
scene_11.doc | |
File Size: | 30 kb |
File Type: | doc |
scene_ii.doc | |
File Size: | 32 kb |
File Type: | doc |
Greek Play Production
Summary: After the Greek Playwriting project, we chose the winning play. It was called A World of Black and White. Then we started the Play Production. The play was about a girl, Nyack, who is a black African and a boy, Able, who is a white African, meet on the beach, where there friendship sparks. The thing is, usually there's segregation between the two different Africans but they didn't care. The time frame of the play goes from the 1950's to the 1990's during an apartheid. Able and Nyack join a resistance that fights for equality for the black and white Africans. Able dies when a police officer shot him during a rally, and Nyack goes to jail. Years later, Nyack receives a letter from Able's daughter, Hope. 1994, the apartheid ended, and Nyack was still alive to witness it, and that was her mission all along. Shortly after, she dies.
My job was in costumes and make-up. I was responsible, along with other members of my group, to design what the characters were going to wear and how they looked like as they aged [especially Nyack]. We had to find outfits that people could bring in already so that we didn't have to buy them. Me and my partners made a list of basic clothes that the actors bring in for themselves. I think I could have contributed more by actually trying to find the clothes we needed and if I did my own job. I also helped A LOT with the set design crew to help paint the backdrop. So if I maybe spent less time on that, I think I would have been a better help. But I'm proud of the performance we were able to pull off. I really enjoyed helping the actors get into costume and I'm also proud of the backdrop I worked countless hours on and I was only volunteering! I wish I could have gotten credit for that.
World In Motion
Reflection
Personally, I thought that this was a fairly HARD project [because I wasn't fully understanding the physics]. There were the different graphs like position vs. time, acceleration vs. time, and velocity vs. time that you seen previously that we had to make. For this project, the main focus was to be able to find the acceleration, velocity, and positions.
To the right is a picture of a motion map.
Below: Position vs. Time (left), Acceleration vs. Time (middle), Velocity vs. Time (right)
Reflection
Personally, I thought that this was a fairly HARD project [because I wasn't fully understanding the physics]. There were the different graphs like position vs. time, acceleration vs. time, and velocity vs. time that you seen previously that we had to make. For this project, the main focus was to be able to find the acceleration, velocity, and positions.
To the right is a picture of a motion map.
Below: Position vs. Time (left), Acceleration vs. Time (middle), Velocity vs. Time (right)
Sumo Bots
About Sumo Bots...
For this project we were in groups of 4-5 and we each had assigned jobs. We originally made robots out of Legos but those were kind of like prototypes for our real robots. Our final robots could be made of whatever we want to use but they couldn't go over a certain weight. Afterwards, we made our robots try to fight each other (push opponent out of the ring). My job in particular was to program our robot. I didn't pick that job and it is difficult! There's a lot of writing codes and having to remember them and because it was different than writing some essay in for mal language its like writing in some weird way that the robot will understand. Its like learning another language. It's still fairly hard to me but I hope I have other opportunities to program so I could say that I've had some experience (but I'm still a beginner[:).
Strategies...
There are a few ways our robot searches. One way is the bumper. It's attached to the back and once another robot tries hitting ours from behind, our robot will go backwards and try to push that robot away and hopefully out of the ring. Another way is the color sensor in the front. Its pointed towards
the ground and it senses if anything is under it or not. If it sees nothing under it, it should be able to turn around and keep searching. We also have a
sensor under our claw that flips robots over when it feels something is on top of it.
The Haunting of HTHI
What was this project about?
This is the first year that the Jill/Major team has done a project like The Haunting of HTHI. The idea was thought up by our very
own teacher, Jill, because of her curiosity behind the scary stories told by various students, teachers and employees from around the building. We learned about the history of NTC/our building and the Native Americans who might just be the ghosts that haunt our school. My class had the opportunity to work with the San Diego Ghost Hunters to see if our building is really haunted. We were first put into groups of 2-3 people and were assigned to a certain vignette. That vignette was what the groups short video would be about. We stayed overnight twice with the San Diego Ghost Hunters to try to capture evidence ourselves. Then we collected the information and were able to add that to our vignette videos. In the end, we were supposed to pick the best vignettes to go into the final full-length film.
Reflection
I think that this project is the most unique project I've done so far. I thought it was fun and at first I was really happy to hear we were doing
something like this because I love to watch things like Paranormal State or Ghost Hunters. This experience was very surreal. I had to create a storyboard for my final vignette. I tried about 3-4 times before I got to my final draft. We changed the script a lot so that was one of the main reasons why it took me a while to get things right. I also helped a little with our vignette video. I found b-roll for in between shots of the San Diego Ghost Hunters. I did some perfecting of the video too after school. I adjusted the pictures to fit the screen, rendered and also listened to audio to see if there was anything unnecessary that I could get rid of. Both editing the video and creating the storyboard took a fair amount of time to finish but sometimes we had technical difficulties or problems that stopped us a lot of the time but they were easy to fix for the most part.
This is the first year that the Jill/Major team has done a project like The Haunting of HTHI. The idea was thought up by our very
own teacher, Jill, because of her curiosity behind the scary stories told by various students, teachers and employees from around the building. We learned about the history of NTC/our building and the Native Americans who might just be the ghosts that haunt our school. My class had the opportunity to work with the San Diego Ghost Hunters to see if our building is really haunted. We were first put into groups of 2-3 people and were assigned to a certain vignette. That vignette was what the groups short video would be about. We stayed overnight twice with the San Diego Ghost Hunters to try to capture evidence ourselves. Then we collected the information and were able to add that to our vignette videos. In the end, we were supposed to pick the best vignettes to go into the final full-length film.
Reflection
I think that this project is the most unique project I've done so far. I thought it was fun and at first I was really happy to hear we were doing
something like this because I love to watch things like Paranormal State or Ghost Hunters. This experience was very surreal. I had to create a storyboard for my final vignette. I tried about 3-4 times before I got to my final draft. We changed the script a lot so that was one of the main reasons why it took me a while to get things right. I also helped a little with our vignette video. I found b-roll for in between shots of the San Diego Ghost Hunters. I did some perfecting of the video too after school. I adjusted the pictures to fit the screen, rendered and also listened to audio to see if there was anything unnecessary that I could get rid of. Both editing the video and creating the storyboard took a fair amount of time to finish but sometimes we had technical difficulties or problems that stopped us a lot of the time but they were easy to fix for the most part.
Above, are some of the final drafts of the storyboards and scripts I made. It took about 3 to 4 drafts of storyboards before this because the script kept changing. This is the most recent storyboard but there should be one more storyboard after this because Jill had us take out the student interviews.
Memoir Project
This was the very first project of the year. I liked it because we pretty much had the freedom to do whatever we wanted with our journal entries. We also incorporated a picture with the entry. I had a few challenges with doing my homework at home because at the time I didn't have a computer. So, I did my work during lunch. Sometimes I think I was a little lost with the project because there was a lot of things I went through in the beginning of the year and it was kind of tough. But, I got through it. I just wish I was a bit more responsible because I didn't complete some of my journal entries. BUT, here you can see all the completed ones below.
This was the very first project of the year. I liked it because we pretty much had the freedom to do whatever we wanted with our journal entries. We also incorporated a picture with the entry. I had a few challenges with doing my homework at home because at the time I didn't have a computer. So, I did my work during lunch. Sometimes I think I was a little lost with the project because there was a lot of things I went through in the beginning of the year and it was kind of tough. But, I got through it. I just wish I was a bit more responsible because I didn't complete some of my journal entries. BUT, here you can see all the completed ones below.