Feb 08 2009
Teaching with Scale Model Railroads and Trains
Teaching with Scale Model Railroads and Trains
Capture the interest of students with scale model railroads and trains. Go beyond dry word problems about train leaving and traveling at various rates. Make science and math education come alive with scale model trains and railroads.
Education in the US is lagging way behind the rest of the world. America has a science and mathematics crisis. Soon we will be unable to fill the science and engineering positions that the previous generation has filled. The demand for mathematicians, scientists and engineers is growing.
National Science Foundation has found that student decide at a surprisingly early age whether they will pursue education and interest in science and math. NSF found that most student decided by the time they were in 5th grade that they “were no good at science and math”. Girls often decided that science and math was “not for girls” as early as 4th grade.
Counteract these attitudes and trends by making teaching and learning fun. Model railroads establish a reason to learn and APPLY science and math principles. These subjects are perfect as “hands-on” and “mind engaged” learning experiences when used in the context of scale model railroads and trains. Model railroads inject enough fun without deviating too far from academic procedure. They inject just enough fun without being “baby-ish”. They help to make the mental gymnastics and theoretical remoteness of the dry math and science come alive.
Scale modeling is a natural for mathematics. It immediately demands practical solutions for converting one size (full size) into a miniature, scale world. This is terrific for teaching ratios and percentages. This is not possible with toy trains or out of scale models or “tin plate”. Students are fascinated when you can show them the exact same engine in several scale sizes. Scale rulers and full size measuring tapes can be used to convert the size of a class room or a bedroom into the size railroad empire that room could hold in various scales. This is a lesson that can be carried out quickly and will be memorable. The basic principle of ratios and percentages will last a lifetime and can be used again and again. Ratios, percentages, and relative spatial relationship are standard fair on national college entrance exams.
Older students work on Geometry. Scale model railroads are filled with geometry and geometric principles. Students can calculate the arcs, tangents, and areas of circles using the radius, diameter, and circumference of railroad tracks. Model railroaders constantly battle with getting the maximum circumference in the minimum space. Railroad layout design is a perfect application for geometry teaching. What is the volume of the river, mountain or lake? What are their surface areas? These have immediate application when estimation how much materials you will need to build the mountains, rivers, and lakes.
Yes, you can have a train leaving one station at a certain speed and another leaving the opposite station at another speed. Model railroad creates an opportunity to avoid collision and calculate the optimum location for a passing siding. You can also calculate the effects of adjusting the trains speeds. You can notice the effect of a longer train on the length of time one of the trains needs to sit in a siding. Students can be given a railroad layout, train lengths and times and create optimized collision free schedules.
Scale applies to the speed that a train is traveling on a stretch of track within the model railroad. This is another good problem for math teachers.
Engineering applies to model railroads just as it applies to many things in the full scale world. Will the bridge hold a train weighing more than a certain amount? Will the train fly off the curving track if it exceeds a certain speed and the coefficient of adhesion? Why are bullet trains shaped like a bullet and diesel, freight engines shaped like a brick? Would it be more efficient for NASA to launch a rocket riding on the back of a railroad car downward (using gravitational force) and then curve it upward for launch? Or would the gained energy be lost in the curve? Would the forces created hurt the spaceship or the astronauts?
Homeschoolers can build a railroad as part of their school class lessons. Scale model railroad can be used as a continuing theme used by homeschoolers for week after week. Delving into new areas of learning and creating a railroad for the whole family or Homeschool group. Homeschoolers can visit railroad museums and study careers and history. They can get schedules and ride trains as a school trip. All the way they can be learning and applying their learning.
Social studies and civics teachers can use model railroads and ask how can you create a sustainable community? Model railroads are great for sparking interest in where do comodities come from and where do they go? Westward expansion in the US was fueled by the expansion of railroads accross America. America’s Civil War was the first war that operated in conjunction with the railroads. How did they influence the war and its outcome?
History teachers can have great teachable moments with a model railroad.
The possibilities are endless.
Have fun!
Trainguy
