Projects-MOONSHOT ACADEMY

Multi-cultural Villages and Tribes

Disciplines/Subjects: History, geography, art and global citizenship Key Themes: Cultural Diversity Tribal Traditions Geography and Environment Social Structures and Roles Global Awareness This project explores the diverse cultures of various tribes and villages across the globe. Students will dive into the history, geography, social structures, daily life, and survival methods of these communities. By researching different tribes such as the Maasai, Cherokee, and others, students will understand how geography influences daily life and culture. The project culminates in the creation of display boards for a final expo, where students will share their findings, models, and visual work to showcase their understanding of the tribes they’ve researched.

From Farm to Table

Disciplines/Subjects: Science、Social Study、Language Key Themes: Curiosity、Healthy eating、Plant growth、Regions and cuisine China is an ancient civilization with a profound history of five thousand years. Our traditional culture is vast and profound, and among it, the culinary culture is particularly charming. Chinese cuisine is not merely food; it also carries our history, customs, and wisdom. We have dumplings during the Spring Festival, symbolizing reunion and wealth; zongzi during the Dragon Boat Festival, in memory of the patriotic poet Qu Yuan; and mooncakes during the Mid-Autumn Festival, representing fulfillment and reunion. These delicacies are not only delicious but also imbued with deep cultural significance. Learners are going to open a "Culinary Street" in the Moon Exploration Community, allowing friends from all over the world to taste traditional Chinese cuisine and experience its unique cultural charm. At the same time, they will also promote the concept of healthy eating, so that everyone can enjoy delicious and healthy food. In this project, learners can: Gain an understanding of the concept of healthy eating and learn about the relationship between the human digestive system and diet. Explore the signature dishes of major Chinese cities, learn about traditional Chinese tea culture, and try making traditional Chinese pastries and dried fruits. Discover the beauty of food, understand the culture of traditional Chinese shops, and create their own unique stores.

Biomimetic Design

Disciplines/Subjects: Science、Language、Engineer Key Themes: Creativity, Design, Biomimetics Biomimetics is a discipline that involves understanding the principles and mechanisms of biology and applying this knowledge to fields such as engineering, technology, and design. It aims to imitate the structures, functions, and behaviors of living organisms in nature to develop products and systems that are more efficient, energy-saving, environmentally friendly, and intelligent. The applications of biomimetics are extremely broad, including robotics, aircraft, automobiles, architecture, materials science, medicine, and more. Common examples of biomimetic design in our daily lives range from large-scale items like airplanes and eco-friendly buildings to smaller ones like medical bandages and swimsuits. All these are inspired by nature, which provides endless inspiration to designers willing to change reality. In this project, third-grade learners will observe the different characteristics of plants and animals, identify real-life problems that need to be solved, establish connections between the two, and attempt to design a biomimetic product to address these practical issues. Even more excitingly, they will have the opportunity to embark on an entrepreneurial journey. They will hold a formal product launch with their own design. If they receive support from more judges, they may even have the chance to initiate the production of their entrepreneurial product! Throughout this process, they will act as product designers, understanding what a product is, who it aims to solve problems for, what unique design it should have, and how to transform a design into a tangible prototype. They will also be entrepreneurs, needing to deliver a presentation to showcase their achievements and growth. Of course, we also encourage them to fulfill their roles and contribute within their teams. If they can manage budgeting and design, it may offer even greater assistance to their entrepreneurship.

Capturing the trajectory of movement under slow-motion lenses

Disciplines/Subjects: Health and Sports & Visual Arts Key Themes: Slow motion and movement trajectory. Scientific Research and Artistic Presentation Biomechanical Analysis: Slow-motion footage can be utilized in biomechanical studies to scrutinize muscle activity and force transmission during movements. For instance, when examining the batting trajectory in baseball, slow-motion can capture the muscle contractions and the path of the movement, providing a foundation for scientific training. Data Recording and Analysis: Slow-motion can record detailed data of movements for subsequent analysis and research. For example, in track and field training, it can document an athlete's running posture and stride frequency, assisting coaches in devising more scientific training plans. Visual Effects Presentation: Slow-motion enhances visual effects, enabling students to more intuitively comprehend the physical processes of movements. Display of Action Details: Slow-motion can clearly reveal complex actions and movement trajectories, allowing the audience to appreciate every detail of the action. For example, in action films, slow-motion is often used to showcase stunts and fight scenes, intensifying visual impact. Aesthetic of Movement: Slow-motion can transform ordinary actions into visually appealing experiences with artistic beauty. For example, slow-motion footage of dance or sports movements can highlight the grace and power of motion. Students will take burst photographs of their peers' swinging motion, stitch each frame together in photoshop as a work of chronophotography. Through the process, they will observe the continuous motion of sport and transform it into colorful visual languages.

Laughter Project

Disciplines/Subjects: Science、Social Emotional Learning、ELA、CLA、Performing Arts、Visual Arts Key Themes: Empathy 、Happiness 、Performing The Laughter Project allows kids to be like kids. Students explore their natural joy as they investigate what makes them laugh. They learn about the benefits and social implications of laughter. They connect with experts to learn how to make others laugh, then apply their knowledge by creating a "Bag of Tricks" including jokes, a puppet, a funny book to read, and a personal narrative about a funny moment in their life. Students showcase their knowledge and skills at the "Olders Care Center", where they use their bag of tricks to bring joy and laughter to the residents.

Energy as waves

This project aims to demonstrate that a change in energy will result in a change in wave characteristics. By conducting research, collecting data, and developing a working model, we will analyze how variations in energy impact wave properties such as amplitude, frequency, and wavelength. The students were supposed to submit 2 artifacts and share or present the same to their classmates. 1) Research and data report 2) A working model for data collection

Projects