7th Grade STEM Page
Welcome to 7th grade STEM.
Thanks to the support of the Peninsula Education Foundation and our PVIS parents, we have an incredible STEM program. I feel lucky to be part of it. I know this program has changed lives and kickstarted some interesting careers. We would not have a STEM program without the support of the PEF.
Thanks to the support of the Peninsula Education Foundation and our PVIS parents, we have an incredible STEM program. I feel lucky to be part of it. I know this program has changed lives and kickstarted some interesting careers. We would not have a STEM program without the support of the PEF.
The 7th grade STEM program consists of two trimester long classes.
(These classes can be taken in either order.)
Design & Modeling (& Manufacturing) - We will learn and practice the design process. Nearly everything is designed and we all design. Understanding the design process is a superpower. It makes problem-solving easier and you will develop an intuitive sense of why things are the way they are. To communicate our designs we will learn technical drawing and 3D modeling (CAD). We will learn how to manufacture our designs using laser cutters, 3D printers, vinyl cutters, and milling machines.
Automation & Robotics - We will learn about mechanisms. A mechanism is a system of parts that are combined to cause change. A mechanism can take something that is spinning slowly and make it spin faster or allow a little effort to lift a heavy object. We will combine these mechanisms to build machines. We will learn to code instructions that will teach our machines to sense and respond to the world just like the Curiosity rover exploring Mars.
Class Materials - All you need is something to write on and something to write with. A pencil is way better than a pen when we are sketching. A pencil sharpener, eraser, and straight edge will also make drawing easier and more enjoyable.
Computer-Aided Design
As part of the 7th grade STEM curriculum, you will learn how to use a CAD program. A CAD program is used to model and animate 3D objects. These objects can be printed in one of our 3D printers or cut in our CNC machine. A 2D aspect of the 3D object can also be cut in the laser or vinyl cutter. I prefer Fusion 360 by Autodesk but other CAD options we have used include OnShape, SketchUp, and Tinkercad.
Graphic Design
As part of the 7th grade STEM curriculum, you will learn to use a vector drawing program. A vector drawing is a 2D drawing that can be used in laser cutters or vinyl cutters. I prefer a program called Inkscape that is similar to Adobe Illustrator but is free and open-source.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions ([email protected])
