It's tough to think of an actual topic to center an entire class on that isn't already taught, but maybe it would be cool to have a project-based class. So if the kids wanted to make a certain project-say, a torpedo, it could entail several subjects.
We could decide on what to use as a propellant...probably something like gun powder, ammonal, whatever. Work out the chemistry in class, show what reactions would be needed to make the compound and the reaction taking place when it's oxidized (burned.) Look at topics like enthalpy and potential energy in a system and judge what kind of thrust we'll need.
That's where we would also have to consider physics. We need to decide how far the target should be, what force will be needed to destroy it (a little materials science there) what the water resistance will be, stabilizing "flight" path etc. Essentially, we would have to use math in application to a task.
So, judging from the potential energy of the chemical reaction within a closed system in the fuselage of a measurable mass and volume, we could calculate the velocity of the torpedo. If we measured the velocity over a period of time, we could plot the acceleration. These two give us two variables of Newton's Second Law F=ma. Now we could determine the force delivered to the target by the projectile. Water also has a density and mass, so resistance and even friction coefficients would have to be considered and accounted for if we didn't want to have to build numerous torpedoes and waste materials in trial and error.
Also, any research project wouldn't be complete without analysis and a report. Here is where technical writing and intended audience will make an appearance for a little bit of English incorporated into the class.
There's no way anyone would be able to conduct a class experiment like this, but it would be fun. It takes something that students would choose and be interested in, and walks them through what is entailed in accomplishing the chosen task. For many things, they'll see why all of the subjects in school are important and relate to each other-especially math and sciences. I mean, the kids could just as easily choose to make a quad copter drone, and so long as we could afford the materials, we could cover some basic circuitry, calculate thrust created by the motors, subtract the weight of the drone itself and start assessing what type of load our drone would be capable of lifting.
So my answer in short...Independent Study Applied Research Project.
I think it would be the most fun for the teachers and students, and also get the students more interested in learning subject matter a lot of students find boring or too difficult.
It's tough to think of an actual topic to center an entire class on that isn't already taught, but maybe it would be cool to have a project-based class. So if the kids wanted to make a certain project-say, a torpedo, it could entail several subjects.
We could decide on what to use as a propellant...probably something like gun powder, ammonal, whatever. Work out the chemistry in class, show what reactions would be needed to make the compound and the reaction taking place when it's oxidized (burned.) Look at topics like enthalpy and potential energy in a system and judge what kind of thrust we'll need.
That's where we would also have to consider physics. We need to decide how far the target should be, what force will be needed to destroy it (a little materials science there) what the water resistance will be, stabilizing "flight" path etc. Essentially, we would have to use math in application to a task.
So, judging from the potential energy of the chemical reaction within a closed system in the fuselage of a measurable mass and volume, we could calculate the velocity of the torpedo. If we measured the velocity over a period of time, we could plot the acceleration. These two give us two variables of Newton's Second Law F=ma. Now we could determine the force delivered to the target by the projectile. Water also has a density and mass, so resistance and even friction coefficients would have to be considered and accounted for if we didn't want to have to build numerous torpedoes and waste materials in trial and error.
Also, any research project wouldn't be complete without analysis and a report. Here is where technical writing and intended audience will make an appearance for a little bit of English incorporated into the class.
There's no way anyone would be able to conduct a class experiment like this, but it would be fun. It takes something that students would choose and be interested in, and walks them through what is entailed in accomplishing the chosen task. For many things, they'll see why all of the subjects in school are important and relate to each other-especially math and sciences. I mean, the kids could just as easily choose to make a quad copter drone, and so long as we could afford the materials, we could cover some basic circuitry, calculate thrust created by the motors, subtract the weight of the drone itself and start assessing what type of load our drone would be capable of lifting.
So my answer in short...Independent Study Applied Research Project.
I think it would be the most fun for the teachers and students, and also get the students more interested in learning subject matter a lot of students find boring or too difficult.