This week we tried out our switches, on our self driving car activity.  One of my switches broke when I was testing it, so I only had 2 switches that were mine, and I had to borrow a switch from someone else. We didn’t have much time to do the activity, so only 3 people went at my table. After the activity we could either throw it away, keep it, or give it to Mr.Calvert. I just threw mine away, because I didn’t really put much effort into them and I thought they were kind of a simple design.

Each of my switches had a different design, but were similar in a way. My first switch worked like you have a popsicle stick, and whenever you press the back down, because of rubber band holding the popsicle stick, it will go up to touch two pieces of tin foil together which will get the light bulb to turn on. My second switch, has this thing that is like a swing, and there is a piece of cardboard that holds the tinfoil, so whenever you press it down the light bulb will turn on. My last switch is really simple, just one piece of cardboard folded in two pieces, and each side has a piece of tinfoil, so it kind of works like a mouth, because it opens and closes.

I finished all three of my switches for the “Self driving car” activity. This week we started to use the soldering iron, and made solder people. Mr.Calvert gave us a presentation the day before of how to use the soldering iron, but I forgot and messed up my first attempt to solder the solder person’s arms to his body. With some help from my peers, and Mr.Calvert I was able to solder the two pieces together, but the only bad thing about the person was, his neck wasn’t twisted correctly, but it was my first time so… I hope to do more of these projects, and I will get better as they go, so I guess this is an okay start.

We stated a project this week, for a “self driving car” game. It has three different switches, each having a unique and different design. The game 2 people putting down cards in random orders. If a person places a card on the right, you need to use the switch on the right, if there is a card on the left you would have to use the left switch, and if both cards are placed down then the middle switch must be used. It will eventually get faster and faster, and that will make things harder. I didn’t get much done, but I got almost one of my switches done, but I still need to get 2 more and it is probably going to take me a little more time to finish my first switch.

On Monday, we were working on circuits. The activity was to use a battery, light bulb, switch, and wires, to make a lightbulb light as you move the switch. It was difficult to get the wires to stay, but eventually I got a working light bulb. I enjoyed the activity, and I hope to do more activities like this in the future.

This week I was at class for only two days, but in those two days we learned about atoms. Atoms are made of protons, electrons, and neutrons. Originally the name of atoms were atomos, which is greek for uncuttable. It took thousand of years before people had proof that atoms existed. It was an interesting topic that I never really new too much about, and I know that this would help me have a better understanding of electricity.

This week in school, we are learning about human rights for just one day, and for technology Mrs.Moore, talked to us about a solution to the killing of elephants for their ivory. Mrs.Moore found a solution, by using a plant from a rainforest, called a tagua seed. A tagua seed has the same characteristics as ivory, and they have many things in common. This week we went over safety rules, and we did this fun breakout activity! We also got to learn about new tools a soldering iron which can get up to 900 degrees fahrenheit! We would get to do many fun project in the future that I can’t wait to do. I hope to learn more as we go more into the quarter!