Invention x Nature 2018 & 2019
The Invention x Nature curriculum was created by Beam Center Project designers as part of the NYC Department of Education’s Summer in the City STEM program. Over the course of 6 weeks, 9th and 10th grade students learn to ideate and build through an iterative engineering process themed around hands-on prototyping of interactive objects inspired by the natural world.
In the first phase of the program, beginning with an introduction to tool usage and safety, students learn fundamental building and fabrication skills, basic electronics, and mechanical movement. In subsequent weeks of the program, fundamental skills are built on and supplemented with wearable electronics, Arduino, piezo mics and a variety of sensors. Finally, students combine their favorite parts of the program to create a Synthesis project that showcases their new skills.
Prototyping Journals
Soldering
Fundamentals: Flashlight Project
After learning how to wire and solder a simple circuit with an LED, students are challenged to create a “Mechanical Flashlight”. The flashlight must combine the LED with at least two mechanical movements that turn the light on and off by physically opening and closing the circuit.
Fundamentals: Animatronics Project
