Ms. Lea Smith, Technology Education
Peacock Middle School
(630)773-1232, Ext. 544

In Industrial Technology students explore the wonders of our technological world by integrating hands-on projects with information learned in their other classes in language arts, social studies, science, and mathematics. They gradually develop problem solving and documentation skills that will be used throughout their three years at Peacock.

6^th Grade: Introducing Technology

These courses familiarize 6^th grade students with several technological concepts. They are encouraged to apply existing and new learning in creative ways to solve “real world” problems on their own, rather than being led step by step. Cooperative learning activities require groups to pool knowledge and strengths, overcome weaknesses, and create a unique solution to a given challenge— simulating some interesting situations in space exploration.

They then explore the utility of the computer and learn how to competently use graphic arts software programs. By creating visual projects with these professional-level tools, students gain a preliminary understanding of the world of communications.

7^th Grade: Applying Technology

Students build on their experience by investigating the Industrial Design process used in all professional technology fields. They apply language arts, science, and math skills with the individual steps in the design process to learn aspects of engineering such as project planning and documentation, drafting techniques, load stress and efficiency, and testing procedures.  Bridge design, construction, and stress testing are modeled after national competitions.

In preparation for educational decisions the 7^th graders will face in high school and college, they spend a week looking at various careers in technology and talking to professionals about their jobs.  Then they expand upon their knowledge of communications tools by creating cartoons in Illustrator and Photoshop with digital photography.

8^th Grade: Exploring Technology

In the 8^th grade elective, students further develop their analytical skills by using formal techniques for research and design.  The aeronautics unit is introduced with the glider project which is modeled after national design competitions. Combining the principles of flight and Newton’s Laws, they work cooperatively to become experts in a single area of rocket components, share their insights on design teams to create water bottle rockets, and document the process.

The standard curriculum uses some of the same investigative techniques to look at energy and its uses in and abuses of our environment. Students present the results of their research as teams to each other, exploring the challenge of presentation, print communications, and evaluation. As a demonstration of the complexities that alternative energies present, the teams then build battery-powered cars. Taking this a step further, and encouraging as much creativity as possible, they finish the course by building Rube Goldberg contraptions that use potential and kinetic energies to accomplish crazy goals.

To complete the 8^th grade curriculum, students hear presentations from the Itasca Police Department, a local bike shop, and the school nurse to learn about safe riding and equipment maintenance. Then they can bring their bikes to school for a skills rodeo on the last day.