Shop Class; Wednesday, Third Period [11/30].

[special_rabbit]

"Well, kids," said Amaya, greeting the class with her usual nod before launching into the lesson for that day, "we're coming up on December, the last month of the year, the end of the semester, and the approaching of colder weather, and, since sometimes things can get a little haywire around here during that time, this next project is something that started out as an inspiration one year from one of the school trips and has turned out to be something that could be useful.

"Now," she continued, "I'm not from somewhere with electricity," a nod, again, to the person in the room who was incidentally exactly where she was from, and therefor, same, "but it's something I've gotten pretty used to having on hand. Sometimes, though, something happens where even the electricity around here is a no-go. Most places around here have got a back-up generator or two to keep things going along smoothly, but there are also ways to make your own generators, as well, and that's what we'll be learning today. Specifically, a thermoelectric generators. Because all you really need for one of those is just a few parts, a tub of water, and some candles.

"What we're essentially doing, then," Amaya continued with her explanation, because science!, "is creating energy based on the temperature difference between the heat from candle flame and the cool water in the small tubs we'll be using. This should be powerful enough to charge a phone or perhaps a few other small but useful devices in an emergency. And I'm sure some of you could easily modify this to create more power to help energize something with a bit more oomph, too."

So the students would find a handout of instructions on their workstations as well as the materials they needed, as Amaya led them through the steps: starting with a handful of thermoelectric plates, which would generate electricity as it heated up one side while cooling down the other, and sticking them to the bottom of a container for the cold water. They'd be using bread tins, because they really did work pretty well, using thermoconductive glue and then saudering the black and red wires that stick out from the plates together, closing the circuit, and protecting the wires from creating a short circuit against the metal pan with some electrical tape. Then on to hooking up a voltage regulator to stabilize the energy passing through the plates, which would also serve as the plug-in point for their devices. They'd be mounting it over the tin with a strip of aluminum to keep it out of the water. Place the strip, hook up the wires to the regulator, another bit of aluminum over the plates, and onto the stand! With more aluminum!

And now to test it out! Line up the candles underneath, pour some cold water into the tin, let the thing get juiced up, and give it a try!

"Now, as the water warms up, it'll need to be refreshed, because the difference in temperature is key to what creates the power," Amaya offered as she finished up the demonstration. "Using snow or ice is actually more effective because of this...so next blizzard that sweeps in and knocks out the power, you should be all set! And if you make a big enough one, I'll bet you could even make it snowman proof!"

Because, yes, that could be important!

"So, let me know if there's any questions, and, if not, let's get to work!"

Beginner's Guide to Heroism, Wednesday - 2nd Period

[needsacatchphrase]

Well, it was that timeof the week again for class and this time around there wasn't a holiday to keep it from happening!

"Welcome back, everyone," Jane said brightly. "I hope everyone enjoyed their time off from school."

With or without trips home. Who really knew?

"Last week had me thinking about another part of the whole hero thing and how it might affect the people you care about," she said. "Before I got all... Norse god-y, I did get kidnapped at least once because of my boyfriend. And some dangerous science, but mostly the Thor thing?"

Again: worst movie of the franchise.

"So, how would you prevent those sorts of things? A secret identity maybe? Or just always being on guard?"

Getting to Know Earth, Wednesday

[sharp_man]

"We'll undoubtedly get plenty of Christmas occurrences this month, courtesy of the island," Hannibal began, "but I thought it might be good to experience some that aren't an inconvenience or minor danger. And it will give us all some time to shop as well."

He led them through the portal. "Welcome to Tivoli Gardens, in Denmark. There should be plenty to do here. Enjoy yourselves, and I will find you back here at the end of class."

Ignore the people there who didn't at all sound like Hannibal.

Mechanics of Engineering - Wednesday, 1st Period

[notagoose]

“Welcome back,” Goose said when he started class that week, “sorry about last week’s class, I got called away unexpectedly," he added, "I thought that since we’ve covered the six simple machines we’d start looking at other aspects of mechanical engineering and I thought we’d take a look at lock picking today,”

Goose had also not prepared anything for this week’s class so he had once again gone through his old class notes until he had come across this one he’d done over the summer.

“So for today’s class we’re going to have a look at the mechanics inside of a padlock and take it apart and put it back together again,” he explained.