Name:____________________________________________ Date:_____________________

Science ALL 8-____ Teacher:__________________

8
th
Grade Science Project
Zoom Machines


Objective:
Individual students or groups of TWO students will create a zoom machine that will compete in a race for
the longest distance traveled. This project counts as a MAJOR grade for the 6
th
six weeks grading period.

Directions:
1. This project will be completed during class time ONLY. You may NOT build at home! Even if you are
absent, the time goes on! Teams are provided with PLENTY of time to build the zoom machines in
class.
2. Your zoom machine must be powered by the energy stored in a rubber band motor and may NOT be
aided by a helping hand, sling shot, launch pad, or other energy source.
3. Each team MUST provide their own SHOEBOX AND SUPPLIES to build a zoom machine vehicle. See
list below for supplies that are pre-approved. Supplies not on the pre-approved list MUST be approved
by the teacher BEFORE you use them!
4. Zoom machines and materials being used must fit inside of the student-provided shoeboxesand the
lid must close!
5. Each student must turn in a design proposal with labeled diagrams of the top and side views of the
zoom machine. Students may not start building the zoom machine until the teacher has approved the
proposal!
6. Building zoom machines in class will require the use of drills, hot glue guns, box cutters, etc. We will
ALL practice lab safety each day we are building and will be required to score an A on a safety quiz
before beginning to build.
7. When the time for construction is up, all zoom machines will be impounded inside their shoeboxes (lid
closed) and no changes will be allowed. Any changes made to the original design proposals will be
noted on the Final Design sheet.


Pre-Approved vehicle material listany other supplies must be
approved before they are used on your vehicle!
Pencils
Paper clips
Rubber bands
Wooden Skewers
Straws
Pipe Cleaners
Hot Glue & Guns
Masking Tape
Cardboard
Dowel rods
Wood Glue (NO
SUPER GLUE!)
Plastic bottle caps
Plastic container lids
School glue
CDs
Craft Sticks
Balloons
2 liter bottles







MORE!
Project Rubric is on the back of this page!
2014
Testing Procedure:
Each team will be allowed 1 minute to power up their vehicles. No electric winders are allowed. Teams
are NOT allowed to rewind the rubber band car during a run on the track.
Each team will be allowed TWO trials. Trials will not be run back to backyou will be able to make minor
repairs or adjustments to your car between trials. However, you will NOT be able to make MAJOR design
changes or REBUILD your car between trials.
The greater distance of the two trials will be used for your final results.
If the car goes off the track area, no points will be awarded for the distance it travels off the track. You will
be scored from the point at which it leaves the track/course. The track is 2 meters wide & the length of
the classroom.

Zoom Machines Grading Rubric

Detail
Points
Possible
Points
earned
1. Car completed with authorized supplies ONLY (one per TEAM)
40

2. Distance Traveled: (maximum 20 points!)
20

0.1 to 1. 0 meters (5); 1.1 to 2.0 meters (5); 2.1 to 3.0 meters (5); Beyond (5)
3. Project Design Proposal (one per TEAM)
5

4. Project Vocabulary (one per STUDENT)
10

5. Final Design Sheet (turned in with original proposal; one per TEAM)
10

6. Reflectionto be assigned on 5/26 (one per STUDENT)
15

7. BONUS POINTS:
Possible
Bonus

Best Decorated (by class vote)
5

Most Original Design (by class vote)
5

Farthest Distance Traveled in Class
5

TOTAL POINTSFINAL GRADE 100+

Zoom Machines
Project Design Proposal

Vehicle Name: ______________________________________________________ Period:__________
Designed by: Student #1: ______________________________________________________________
Student #2: ______________________________________________________________

Materials To Be Used:
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________


Reflect back to your balloon car and answer the following questions:

1. What item powered your balloon car? _______________________________
2. What item will power your zoom machine? ____________________
3. Describe how your wheel and axel were attached to the balloon car and how that
allowed your balloon car to move.



4. How will the attachment of the wheels to your zoom machine differ from that of your
balloon car?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

5. What items from the material list will you use to ensure that your cars wheels spin
freely? _________________________________________

Procedure:
ON NOTEBOOK PAPER, describe the procedure you will use to complete your project
using a NUMBERED LIST. PLEASE START A NEW LINE for each step of your
procedure and make sure each step is numbered! Be sure to write your steps so
that anyone can follow them to build your zoom machine. You will need a
minimum of 20 steps.
PROPOSAL SHEET, CONTINUED
In the space below, draw THREE diagrams of what your zoom machine will look like and label the materials
that will be used (i.e. cardboard wheels).
Top View (LABEL materials) bottom View (Label materials)
Side View (LABEL materials)

Teacher Approval: _____________________________________________________________________
Date Approved: _____________________________

Note: This sheet MUST be attached to YOUR final design sheet AND will be turned in
at the end of the project! dont LoSe It!

Zoom Machine FINAL DESIGN Sheet
Student #1 Name: ______________________________________________________________
Student #2 Name: ______________________________________________________________
Materials We Used (& quantity of each!):
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
Top View (LABEL materials) Bottom View (LABEL materials)
Side View (LABEL materials)
CHANGES WE MADE FROM OUR ORIGINAL PROPOSAL (CONTINUE ON THE BACK OF THIS PAGE, IF
NEEDED):________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
WHY WE MADE THESE CHANGES (CONTINUE ON THE BACK OF THIS PAGE, IF NEEDED!):
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Staple your
Original Proposal
to your Final
Design Sheet!


Zoom Machines Safety Rules
AS AN 8
TH
GRADE STUDENT AT WOODCREEK JUNIOR HIGH, I UNDERSTAND THAT
1. THIS PROJECT IS A MAJOR GRADE.
2. MATURE BEHAVIOR IS REQUIRED AT ALL TIMES DURING THIS ACTIVITY.
3. SAFETY GOGGLES ARE REQUIRED AT ALL TIMES WHEN BUILDING MY ZOOM MACHINE.
4. THERE ARE DESIGNATED AREAS FOR EACH OF THE TOOLS THAT I CAN USE TO BUILD MY
ZOOM MACHINE. I AM NOT TO REMOVE ANY OF THE TOOLS FROM THEIR DESIGNATED
AREAS!
5. WHEN USING THE WIRE SNIPS OR SHEARS TO CUT PENCILS, DOWEL RODS, OR PAPER CLIPS,
I WILL WEAR SAFETY GOGGLES AND FACE THE WALL SO THAT OBJECT DO NOT FLY TOWARDS
MY CLASSMATES.
6. WHEN USING HOT GLUE GUNS, I WILL BE CAREFUL NOT TO TOUCH THE HOT WET GLUE OR
THE TIP OF THE GLUE GUN. I WILL NOT TOUCH OTHER STUDENTS OR THEIR BELONGINGS
WITH THE HOT GLUE GUN/GLUE. I WILL NOT INSERT OBJECTS OTHER THAN THE GLUE
STICKS IN THE GLUE GUN.
7. WHEN USING THE DRILL, I WILL USE EXTREME CAUTION. IF I AM NOT AUTHORIZED TO USE
THE DRILL, I WILL ASK THE TEACHER AND WAIT PATIENTLY UNTIL MY ITEM HAS BEEN
DRILLED.
8. IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH ANY OF THE EQUIPMENT OR IF I GET HURT AT ANY TIME, I
WILL NOTIFY THE TEACHER FOR HELP!
9. ALWAYS LAY THE MATERIAL TO BE CUT FLAT ON THE SURFACE PROVIDED TO CUT. I WILL
NEVER HOLD THE MATERIAL IN MY HAND AND TRY TO CUT IT.
10. I WILL WEAR SAFETY GOGGLES OR SAFETY GLASSES DURING THE ENTIRE ZOOM MACHINE
BUILDING PROCESS. (CAN BE BROUGHT FROM HOME!)

I WILL NOT HORSEPLAY WHILE IN THE SCIENCE CLASSROOM AND WILL TAKE A HIGHER DEGREE
OF CAUTION WHEN I OR MY CLASSMATES ARE USING ANY OF THE ABOVE NAMED EQUIPMENT.
I WILL FOLLOW ALL SAFETY RULES AS MY TEACHER HAS EXPLAINED TO ME. IF I CHOOSE TO
EXHIBIT DANGEROUS BEHAVIOR, I WILL LOSE THE PRIVILEGE TO COMPLETE THIS PROJECT AND
WILL RECEIVE AN ALTERNATE ASSIGNMENT OR A ZERO. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A MAJOR
GRADE AND AGREE TO BE A MATURE, RESPONSIBLE PERSON WHILE COMPLETING THIS
ASSIGNMENT.

_________________________________________________________________
STUDENT NAME SIGNATURE DATE

**SIGN AND TURN IN TO YOUR SCIENCE TEACHER!**