Mission of the Month: February 2007
Innovation and Exploration

CYFERnet celebrates National Engineers Week and Black History Month with a tribute to inventors and innovation. We also begin to explore how seasons change with our "It's a Mystery" project. To get the ball rolling, follow the steps listed under each activity.

National Engineers Week

Engineering is about making things work and, more importantly, making them work better. It's also about solving problems. This can mean understanding the science and math behind a material or product. How would you create a machine to deliver hamburgers to customers? How would you design a tall tower? Because an engineer must design to meet specifications, he or she must identify the constraints on a design. The challenge may not be to develop a lunch delivery mechanism, but to develop a creative and elaborate scheme to deliver lunch. Not just to design a tall building, but to design a building that can withstand typhoon strength winds. Budget and location are other constraints that affect the final design. This is where the science of engineering departs from the art of design to solve real problems and meet real needs.

This month, celebrate National Engineers Week (February 18-24) by taking part in some exciting activities [http://www.cyfernet.org/4htech/mission/02-07-Innovation/engineerActivities.pdf]. Along with thousands of young people across the country, you can find out what it takes to be a great engineer!

African American Inventors Curriculum

The African American Inventors Curriculum encourages youth to look at something that already exists and make something new out of it. Mix and match activities from 13 lesson plans, which feature learning objectives, instructions and a list of supplies [http://www.cyfernet.org/interactrain/inventors.html]. You can try one or several of the lessons, adapting each to fit your schedule and resources. But first, check out our Guide to Getting Started [http://www.cyfernet.org/4htech/mission/02-07-Innovation/inventorsCurriculum.pdf].

It's a Mystery!

The world turns, the sun rises. Different every day, but with a rhythm and based on science that has intrigued humans since the dawn of time. Now through May, we invite you to explore the mysteries of time, light and season. Register online [http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/mclass/How.html] to join in the official Mystery competition (which involves locating 10 "mystery sites" based on the time the sun rises/sets and other clues).

Or, try CYFERnet's Time Enough [http://www.cyfernet.org/4htech/mission/02-07-Innovation/timeEnough.pdf] activity: a look at the sunrise, sunset and daylight times in your community.