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High School Physics Department: Building "Polar-Shelter Paper Houses"

November 15, 2024

In November 1984, the first Antarctic expedition team of China left footprints on the permanently frozen Antarctic continent, marking the beginning of a 40-year scientific exploration journey. In November, Shanghai High School International Division held the "Polar-Shelter Paper House Design" project to encourage students to move from the classroom to practice. The competition required students to design and build their own Arctic refuge shelter, which must have adiabatic, windproof, and waterproof features.




To secure a smooth delivery, the physics teachers met several times to discuss the event, from the organization to the selection of materials, from the activity schedule to the evaluation criteria. In the competition venue, students worked in groups, excitedly using their physics knowledge to carefully design and build their houses. The physics knowledge they learned in class, such as mechanics and thermodynamics, instantly became their guiding principles. Physics teachers also participated in the event, guiding students from theoretical analysis to model building. They listened attentively and taught patiently. For the various restrictions and challenges of the competition topic, each group gave a unique answer to the question of how to provide shelter for Antarctic explorers in the harsh cold. Students fully considered the characteristics of the polar regions and actively discovered and solved problems, displaying their wisdom and vitality in practice. At the same time, they also considered the aesthetics of their works, adding a unique decoration of color and personality to ensure the stability of the structure while doing so. Gradually, plain and unremarkable cardboard boxes turned into semi-finished products, and then into functional houses that caught people's eyes. The sense of achievement from teamwork was fully expressed on the students' smiling faces.







This event not only enriched students' after-school lives, but also served as a vivid physics practical lesson. After the houses were built, they will be displayed in the campus for teachers and students to visit and exchange ideas. The best works will participate in the final selection and be awarded at the closing ceremony of this year's High School Science Fair.




(Written by 10(2) Aaron Li    Pictures by Yan Wang, Wenqian Wu    Supervised by Yan Wang    Reviewed by Qian Zuo)