Teaching at a school that is located on a large creek has many advantages. To study Marine Ecosystems for Science, your field trip is right to your own backyard!
A great STEAM project for Marine Science in Middle School is making ROV Underwater Robots. Constructed out of easily available materials and components, students design and build a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) to navigate and explore the local ecosystem.
PVC ROV designed and built by Saint Paul’s Students
Utilizing the new Makerspace at Saint Paul’s, students built ROVs of their design completely from kits. We chose to use kits from http://pvcrov.wix.com/pvcrov because of the value and support. The kits provide a better cost value than sourcing the components separately, and the company provides excellent support and guidance.
Projects like these are not only excellent STEAM activities, they also foster 21st Century Learning Skills. Students engaged in, and learned:
- Design and Engineering
- Project Management
- Measuring, Cutting, and Assembling
- Soldering, Wiring, and Electronics
- Propulsion
- Buoyancy and Ballast
- Watercraft Navigation
Wiring lesson by Makerspace Director Paul Haberstroh
Soldering Lesson was very popular
Students came up with their own PVC ROV Designs
The project was very successful keeping students engaged throughout the entire process. All teams successfully constructed and operated a working ROV! One team added a video camera to record their exploratory voyage:
Very Interesting! Did you Identify any species?
Hi Teddy, thanks for the inquiry! We did observe and identify a Sheepshead fish (Archosargus probatocephalus). Sheepshead fish are very interesting because their teeth resemble human teeth!