Download 8th Grade Syllabus

RISING STARR MIDDLE SCHOOL STEAM LAB
8th GRADE SYLLABUS
“Where Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math come together to advance ours Students for the future.”
The 8th grade nine week Technology and Engineering course will be a combination of the core
curriculum from Georgia focusing on Universal Systems Model and the Engineering Design Process,
the original STEAM course designed and developed over the last twenty years and the new Project
Lead The Way (PLTW) programs being introduced.
Students will begin the course with Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Engineering Design Process (EDP).
The core element to the 8th grade curriculum is the Universal Systems Model and Engineering Design
Process where students will learn, understand and apply the process to the work they are completing.
They will be solving problems given to them and problems they identify to solve.
Students will then translate those concepts to digital Design and Modeling(DM) in the PLTW program
using Autodesk softwares: 123 Design, Inventor, and 3D CAD. The skills in DM will be used
throughout the nine week course. The integration of 3D Printing will be introduced with the labs 3D
printers (MakerBot Mini, DaVinci 2.0, and ROBO 3D +). Students will be 3D printing solutions to
problems that are both creative and practical.
During the course students will study a specific area of Technology they chose, from the multiple
options within the STEAM Lab. Students will work as a team of two to three students. Their focus with
be in three areas: The Technology they have chosen, Universal Systems Model, Engineering Design
Process, and Final 3D Design/Modeling/Printing solution.
Module Technology Choices:
Space and Rocketry, Car Design Research, Aerodynamics, Basic Flight, Drone Piloting or Advanced Research,
Basic Electricity or Arduino Research, Robotics Basics/Lego Mindstorms/VEX, Radio and Broadcasting(WRSM
100.1FM), Construction Basic or Architectural Design, Mechanisms (Mechanical Engineering), Game Design
(GameSalad), Digital Video Production, Animation (Animation Pro2), Embroidery Design (Graphic Arts).
Students will learn to organize and document their course of study as an engineer throughout the nine
weeks with an Engineering Notebook. They can purchase the PLTW Engineering Notebook from the
lab for $5, or use any graphing notebook/graph paper they chose.
They can bring a check made out to “Rising Starr Technology” for $5 or cash to purchase the
PLTW Engineering Notebook.
Grading in Technology and Education is on a point system and structured on a Performance Based
Education philosophy. They are graded on their work in all areas based on the product development,
skill performance, or research and documentation completed.
The STEAM course focuses on the Knowledge, Tools, and Skills (KTS) used by professionals in the
areas of Technology study. So....this is an invitation for parents to come visit and share their
profession with our students to help motivate and advance their thoughts of future study and problem
solving in our society.
Thank you and I look forward to motivating and advancing our future technologists and engineers.
Mr, Didier
RSMS STEAM Lab
Student Signature: __________________________________________ Date: _______________________
Parent Signature: ___________________________________________ Date: _______________________
PLTW Engineering Notebook ($5.00)
Check Enclosed
Cash Enclosed