Our Soapbox Car Project!! by Kendra Christopher https://padlet.com/1christophe5/b2i05inlobwy In a grade 7 gifted classroom. en-us 2018-03-06 15:53:25 UTC 2024-06-24 15:41:14 UTC hello@padlet.com Car Design 1cairnscat https://padlet.com/1christophe5/b2i05inlobwy/wish/239167904 2018-03-07 14:47:45 UTC https://padlet.com/1christophe5/b2i05inlobwy/wish/239167904 Materials and Planning 1christophe5 https://padlet.com/1christophe5/b2i05inlobwy/wish/239171481 Before we could start building our car, we ]]> 2018-03-07 14:51:53 UTC https://padlet.com/1christophe5/b2i05inlobwy/wish/239171481 Hello!! 1christophe5 https://padlet.com/1christophe5/b2i05inlobwy/wish/239171957 Welcome to our blog! Here we will be talking about and giving you updates about our project. What project, you may be wondering? We are building soapbox cars to race at a regional competition! ]]> 2018-03-07 14:52:26 UTC https://padlet.com/1christophe5/b2i05inlobwy/wish/239171957 Challenges We Have Faced - The Steering System 1jamesell https://padlet.com/1christophe5/b2i05inlobwy/wish/239172934 When planning and building for our soapbox car, we came across many challenges that we had figure out answers to. One of the problems we faced was for the steering system- which may be one of the most important part of a soapbox car. 

Our original steering system was basically just an extension of wood blocks out in front of the car with the wheels on either side them and two ends of a rope would be connected to it on either side. To steer, we would pull on one side of the rope to turn the block of wood. 

Later, we realized that pulling on the rope was going to be hard on our arms, and might not give us the best turns. So, our teacher went out to Princess Auto and purchased us a wagon that we can build ourselves. It came with wheels and its own steering system, so we modified the instructions to only build the wheels (we didn’t need the wagon part), and skipped a few steps to attach the steering handle to the wheels! 

After that, all we did was attach the wheels and new-and-improved steering system to the bottom of our car, and we were set to ride in it! 

As of now, we have a very professional-looking steering system (if I do say so myself), and now we ride in it happily and safely!

- Ella

PS. My advice for using wheels from this wagon kit is to use much larger bolts to screw them in so the wheels are secure and you are safe! You can also ask the workers at Home Depot or Princess Auto to help you find the right ones.
]]> 2018-03-07 14:53:31 UTC https://padlet.com/1christophe5/b2i05inlobwy/wish/239172934 First Things First - A Quick Summary 1gloverjac https://padlet.com/1christophe5/b2i05inlobwy/wish/239175150 The first thing we had to do was learn what a soapbox car was, and why we were going to build it.

The design was the most stressful part. It was a lot of conflict
most of the members had different ideas for what it should look like.

As a group we had to decide what things we would need to make our car work. We had to figure out the surface area and from there we figured out how many wooden planks we would need and how much plywood we need to make the car.
 

]]> 2018-03-07 14:56:17 UTC https://padlet.com/1christophe5/b2i05inlobwy/wish/239175150 Building 1caughlinkie https://padlet.com/1christophe5/b2i05inlobwy/wish/239179605 When we started off building our soap box car, we got our frame wood. Our group would grab a piece of frame wood then measure it to the right length that is needed. Once it was measured 2 members of our group would bring our 8 foot long frame wood to the miter saw. While we are cutting, the  other members would then get another piece of the wood and continue the process. We changed our design because of complication that we faced.After around a week of creating our frame, we were finished. 

Now, we have started putting the wheels and plywood onto our car. Our teacher Mr. Komidina who is helping us build our soap box cars got some special bolts which we used to fasten the wheels into the wood. When we put on the wheels we realized that the car would be too high to climb into considering not everyone has the top of the car over their waist, so we put a top part on the back of the car that we are going to climb up onto using extra pieces of wood. 

-Kiersten


]]> 2018-03-07 15:02:08 UTC https://padlet.com/1christophe5/b2i05inlobwy/wish/239179605 1jamesell https://padlet.com/1christophe5/b2i05inlobwy/wish/239432010 2018-03-07 22:21:10 UTC https://padlet.com/1christophe5/b2i05inlobwy/wish/239432010 Attention 1jamesell https://padlet.com/1christophe5/b2i05inlobwy/wish/239984828 When Mrs. Harshaw goes to mark our blogs things she needs to know who did what one so at the end of yours you should do what I'm about to do.

- Ella

When you did it to yours add an ! below:

!]]> 2018-03-09 01:43:16 UTC https://padlet.com/1christophe5/b2i05inlobwy/wish/239984828