Understanding The Way Things Work Now: A Guided Study of Machines! (8-10yo)

Join us anytime to begin your comprehensive & guided study on how most things work! 

As a group, we will study together using David Macaulay's book, "The Way Things Work Now," as our to the the topics we will learn, and we will gain a foundational understanding of how most important things work including:

The Mechanics of Movement- (Including Inclined Planes, Levers, Wheels & Axles, Gears & Belts, Cams & Cranks, Pulleys, Screws, Rotating Wheels, Springs, Friction & more!)

Harnessing the Elements- (Including Floating, Flying, Pressure Power, Exploiting Heat, Nuclear Power)

Working with Waves- (Light & Images, Photography, Printing, Sound & Music, Telecommunications & more!)

Electricity & Automation- (Electricity, Magnetism, Sensors & Detectors, & more!)

The Digital Domain- (Making Bits, Storing Bits, Processing Bits, Sending Bits, Using Bits)

This class will require learners to participate frequently in discussions on the topic of the week. Learners will also be encouraged to look for applications of their weekly topic in the world around them.

While this will be a guided study group, rather than a traditional class, the teacher will provide the learners with further examples to reiterate what they are learning in their studies.  No outside accounts will be needed. Those who will be the right fit for this class are independent learners with good attention spans, enthusiastic participation, and curious minds who want a meeting place to get all of their questions answered.

Schedule of classes:
Week of Oct 13: Making Bits - Finger Inputs
Week of Oct 20: Making Bits - Signal Inputs
Week of Oct 27: Making Bits - Digitizing & Game Controllers
Week of Nov 3: Storing Bits - Bits & Bytes - Computer Memory
Week of Nov 10: Storing Bits - Types of Storage
Week of Nov 17: Storing Bits - Tracking and ID
Week of Nov 24: Processing Bits - Logic Gates & Microchips
Week of Dec 1: Processing Bits - Motherboards & Software
Week of Dec 8: Sending Bits - Networks & Internet
Week of Dec 15: Sending Bits - World Wide Web & Satellite Navigation
Week of Dec 22: Using Bits - Direct & Signal Outputs
Week of Dec 29: Using Bits - Virtual Reality & Simulators
Week of Jan 5: Using Bits - Robots
Week of Jan 12: Using Bits - Computers & Supermarkets

Future Week Topics Include:
Week TBD: The Inclined Plane
Week TBD: Levers
Week TBD: The Wheel & Axle
Week TBD: Gears & Belts
Week TBD: Cams & Cranks
Week TBD: Pulleys
Week TBD: Screws
Week TBD: Rotating Wheels
Week TBD: Springs
Week TBD: Friction
Week TBD: Floating
Week TBD: Flying
Week TBD: Pressure Power
Week TBD: Exploiting Heat
Week TBD: Nuclear Power
Week TBD: Working With Waves
Week TBD: Light & Images
Week TBD: Light & Images
Week TBD: Photography
Week TBD: Printing
Week TBD: Sound & Music
Week TBD: Sound & Music
Week TBD: Telecommunications
Week TBD: More Telecommunications
Week TBD: Electricity
Week TBD: More Electricity
Week TBD: Magnetism
Week TBD: More Magnetism
Week TBD: Sensors & Detectors
Week TBD: More Sensors & Detectors

(Class topics will cycle & repeat around once per year)

If you love STEM & History classes, check out Teacher Tom's other ongoing and one-time classes such as:
-Current Events in Space Technology & Rocket Launches
-Minecraft Engineering with the Create Mod
-Kerbal Space Program (Spaceflight Simulator Challenges To Better Understand Rocket Science)
-Astroneer (Colonize Moons and Planets and Engineering Astronauts)
-Analog Astronauts & Missions
-Women in Space (Historic & Modern Contributions)
-Ham Radio 101
-The Science of Fireworks
-Historic Antarctic Expeditions & Leadership
...& more!