Snowy Summits

Adventure: Snowy Summits

Quest: Slipping Up

Engineering Concept: Weight Distribution and Ergonomics

Challenge Level: Average

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What is the problem?

In this quest, Flynn, a budding engineer, has been asked to help her parents survey a hydroelectric plant in Switzerland. She must take pictures from high up in the Alps to survey the plant and make sure it’s safe, but she is having trouble climbing the mountain due to the deep snow.

How will the students help?

In the first segment, Flynn will ask the participants to creatively solve her problem by planning out how they will use the household materials required to build a solution. Students are encouraged to build a prototype in this segment.

In the second segment, students will research weight distribution and ergonomics to understand how these concepts are related to the problem Flynn is facing. They will be asked to answer open-ended research questions using research links provided by Growin’GEERS and additional research they do on their own.

In the third segment, students will rebuild their initial design based on what they learned in the second segment. They will be asked to create a new plan for how they will use their materials. Once their solution is complete, there will be a Test for Success to see if their solution passes.

What will the participants learn?

  • Weight distribution

  • Ergonomics

  • How industrial engineers apply those concepts

  • What industrial engineers do

  • Swiss culture

  • Swiss history

  • Why teamwork is important

  • Why it is okay to fail

What do I need to complete the quest?

  1. Access to a computer to watch the videos and research the concepts

  2. Ability to print the GEERling worksheets for students to plan their design and answer the research questions

  3. Household materials needed to complete the hands-on component

Want to get started?

Get access to every Growin’GEERS quest and let the engineering adventure begin!

Adventure: Snowy Summits

Quest: Take a Hike

Engineering Concept: Pulleys

Challenge Level: Difficult

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What is the problem?

In this quest, Flynn is in Switzerland with her parents, and they have been asked to help with renovations for a hydroelectric plant. In the previous quest, Flynn was asked to set up a lookout point to check for safety measures in the surrounding areas. She made it to the top of the mountain, but now faces the challenge of getting all of the heavy engineering materials and equipment to the lookout point. She wants to minimize what she has to carry and limit the number of trips she has to take up and down the mountain.

How will the students help?

In the first segment, Flynn will ask the participants to creatively solve the problem by planning out how they will use the household materials required to build a solution. Students are encouraged to build a prototype in this segment.

In the second segment, students will research pulleys to understand how pulleys relate to the problem Flynn is facing. They will be asked to answer open-ended research questions using research links provided by Growin’GEERS and additional research they do on their own.

In the third segment, students will rebuild their initial design based on what they learned in the second segment. They will be asked to create a new plan for how they will use their materials. Once their solution is complete, there will be a Test for Success to see if their solution passes.

What will the participants learn?

  • Pulleys

  • Simple machines

  • How mechanical engineers apply those concepts

  • What mechanical engineers do

  • Swiss culture

  • Swiss music

  • Why teamwork is important

  • Why it is okay to fail

What do I need to complete the quest?

  1. Access to a computer to watch the videos and research the concepts

  2. Ability to print the GEERling worksheets for students to plan their design and answer the research questions

  3. Household materials needed to complete the hands-on component

Want to get started?

Get access to every Growin’GEERS quest and let the engineering adventure begin!

Adventure: Snowy Summits

Quest: Grain O’ Salt

Engineering Concept: Arches and Domes

Challenge Level: Easy

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What is the problem?

In this quest, Flynn is still in Switzerland with her parents. Salt is a valuable resource to the Swiss people, and she has been tasked to help save a collapsing salt mine. There are plans to build a road above where the mine is built, therefore the mine must be reinforced to hold a great amount of weight. Working inside the mine, Flynn needs help to design a device that will support the weight of the mine so it can continue to produce this valuable commodity.

How will the students help?

In the first segment, Flynn will ask the participants to creatively solve the problem by planning out how they will use the household materials required to build a solution. Students are encouraged to build a prototype in this segment.

In the second segment, students will research arches and domes to understand how those concepts relate to the problem Flynn is facing. They will be asked to answer open-ended research questions using research links provided by Growin’GEERS and additional research they do on their own.

In the third segment, students will rebuild their initial design based on what they learned in the second segment. They will be asked to create a new plan for how they will use their materials. Once their solution is complete, there will be a Test for Success to see if their solution passes.

What will the participants learn?

  • Arches

  • Domes

  • How mining engineers apply those concepts

  • What mining engineers do

  • Swiss culture

  • History of salt mines in Switzerland

  • Why teamwork is important

  • Why it is okay to fail

What do I need to complete the quest?

  1. Access to a computer to watch the videos and research the concepts

  2. Ability to print the GEERling worksheets for students to plan their design and answer the research questions

  3. Household materials needed to complete the hands-on component

Want to get started?

Get access to every Growin’GEERS quest and let the engineering adventure begin!