Soccer Around the World
Info
Overview
This is a project for 10 high school students to make soccer balls, ball pumps, and jerseys, as well as design plans to build a soccer goal. Construction of the ball will introduce students to rubber fabrication and geometric thinking, while the pump will require an understanding of air flow and associated pressure distribution. The jerseys will introduce graphic design and screen printing skills, and basic woodworking and technical drawing skills will be developed in the process of designing the goal.
Soccer is the sport of the world, and in the aftermath of a global pandemic that has isolated us from one another, it seems fitting that soccer should serve as the catalyst for reuniting us. Let’s use this sport to bring us back out of our homes, to learn together, play together, and think about the world together.
This project is a collaboration with Global Camps Africa, a nonprofit that equips South Africa’s vulnerable youth with the tools to lead healthy, empowered lives and make positive impacts on their communities. The students of this project will connect with campers from Global Camps using WhatsApp text and video, learn about one another and the role soccer plays in their lives, and ultimately make a gift for one another. In addition to making gear for themselves, Vector Space students will also make a set of balls, pumps, jerseys, and plans to build a goal to be sent to the campers they meet from South Africa.The Global Camps Africa campers will also be making custom jerseys for our students, for a good ol’ fashioned jersey swap.
Curriculum
Throughout this project, students will gain experience in,
- Working with butyl and latex
- Gluing and clamping
- Designing and cutting geometric patterns
- Hand sewing
- O-ring and grease use
- PVC gluing
- Graphic design in Inkscape
- Screen printing
- Basic woodworking (sawing, sanding, fastening)
Schedule
Classes will meet on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:30 - 9:00pm at Vector Space, starting August 18th and ending October 8th.
Students will work for eight weeks before sending their items to South Africa. After this, there will be a brief break while items are in transit. Students will reconvene once their package arrives, to receive their jerseys and to see their peers across the world receive their packages and assemble their soccer goals, and of course, to play a game of soccer together.
Eligibility
This project is for students ages 14 to 19. The early registration fee is $220 before July 22, and $250 between July 22 and August 14th. Students need to commit to missing no more than one class, unless caused by illness or extenuating circumstances. This is a collaborative project and absences are very disruptive.
One scholarship is available by application on the Scholarships tab. The application period closes July 22 and the applicants will be notified by July 29.
COVID-19 Considerations
Due to the intimate nature of shared tool use and other safety considerations of hands-on learning, face masks are recommended during this program. While hand washing and use of hand sanitizer will be encouraged, students will need to work closely in a shared space with shared tools. Tools will be cleaned prior to use by students, and the health of each student will be assessed regularly. With this small group (ten students) we will be able to quickly alert participants of any known COVID exposures and the program will be halted if such a situation arises. Parents and students will need to review and sign this COVID-19 Student Behavior Agreement prior to project participation.
Additional Information
This project will be documented on video, with the intent of producing a short documentary that provides insights into the process of maker education, it’s theory and practice, the methods of making these items, connecting across the world, and inspiring others to be makers themselves.
Before registering, please be consider whether you will be comfortable being on camera throughout this project.
Sponsors
This project is generously supported by,
Instructors
Adam Spontarelli
Adam began his career as a Mechanical Engineer in the Nuclear Industry, modeling the flow of fluid and heat through pipes and debris, around baffles and impellers, across differing liquids, gasses, and solids. If the laws of Thermodynamics seemed to misbehave and joules of energy went missing, Adam helped find them.
After nearly a decade in the field, he left his desk job to pursue his passion for science, engineering, and making by founding Vector Space. Adam has built coffee roasters, drones, thermally conductive LED boards, arcade machines, childrens' bikes, robotic painting pianos, smart thermostats, and everything in between. He's fascinated by the way things works, and the more technical it gets, the better.
The only thing he enjoys as much as making things is teaching others to make things. As the Director of Education, Adam is responsible for crafting educational programming that excites and engages students. He incorporates the compelling work of Makiguchi, Dewey, and Papert into his teaching methods, placing experiential learning at the forefront of his efforts. Adam has led students to build their own quadcopter, launch capsules into space, race RC cars at 60 mph, build giant flip books, custom bicycles, skateboards, autonomous boats, and so much more. His programs have been nationally recognized by the Nation of Makers and shared with the maker education community through Maker Ed. Adam is always coming up with new ideas and looking forward to the next adventure.
Kennon Edwards
Kennon is passionate about making things and helping people discover what they enjoy, and he finds a way to do both as a librarian at Heritage High School. At Vector Space, there's a good chance you'll find him in the woodshop making furniture and lawn games, or upstairs 3D printing and laser cutting his latest graphic designs or possibly working with leather.
Participants
These are the makers who are going to bring this project to life! There are 4 open spots remaining.