Development of a Battery Powered Vehicle Model for Integration into Elementary School Science Curricula

The present article documents the development of a battery powered vehicle model suitable for integration into science related curricula in elementary schools.The build is motivated by the documented need to integrate engineering concepts into elementary school curricula.The objective is to create an activity that develops connections between real-world phenomena and engineering concepts and elicits intentional interactions from elementary school students.The work in this article is the outcome of collaboration between engineering undergraduate students and faculty with education faculty.The specific model is intended to teach concepts related to electric circuits, energy conversion, and, more broadly, transportation electrification.The design criteria are outlined next.(1) The design is low-cost and accessible; (2) the design must be safe and not include potentially hazardous items; (3) the kit is amenable for building without special tools; (4) the design integrates well with teaching of relevant electric circuits and energy conversion concepts; and (5) the build can be easily performed at scale, for instance, simultaneously by a cohort of 25 students.The selection of materials (including base, wheels, motor, and pulleys) and the process of ensuring proper fit is documented.The kit is approximately 10 cm by 9 cm.The development of build instructions and documentation of common issues and recommended fixes are presented as well.Experiences and feedback from implementation of the model in an elementary school in Texas during regular class time are thoroughly discussed.Pointers to further enhancements of the model are provided as well, where the objective would be to enable model modifications interpretable by engineering concepts.