yellow submarine SMASH day

about a month ago we had a smash day. Our goal in the smash day was to create a periscope. This was so that we could see what was inside a box on top of a table. We were not allowed to have our heads above the table. 

before we started we were given a few supplies. They were a meter of tape, a piece of cardboard, ten pieces of paper and four mirrors. When we first received the supplies we thought about what we would do with them. The first idea was to make a traditional periscope but we quickly discarded it. Then we wanted to make a large mirror on a stick but the four mirrors didn't really give one solid image. since we all think in a similar way we didn't need to discuss our design modifications much. we just took the information and ran with it. we decided the a large mirror would not work. but we ran with the basic principle of mirrors and sticks. We then thought that we should make more than one periscope. But we didn't have enough supplies. Then we came up with he idea of being "cheap". At that moment it was decided that we should just make paper sticks with mirrors on the end. We rolled the paper very tightly and it was as hard as a regular twig or stick. We then made our mirror on a stick prototype. It was a success. We proceeded to each making one of these mirrors on a sick. In total we had three. When it came time to put our "periscopes" to the test they prevailed. We were the first team to get all of the objects in the box correct. After it was announced that we had won we looked at the other teams and one of the other teams had mashed their periscope so that it was also a mirror on a stick. It was nice to see that even though we were cheap the other teams ended up doing the same.

The modification of our design wasn't really necessary because we talked about what we should do before we stared. thats how we came up with the being "cheap" idea. we were inspired by the chinese. As in quantity before quality. We now apply this to every other smash day. We have not lost yet.

The way we new how to modify it was when we placed the four mirrors next to each other it didn't have a clear solid image. And also when we had a piece of cardboard with the four mirrors placed at different angles. It didn't seem to be effective. then we ran with the be "cheap" idea.

My only tip to some one doing this for the first time is THINK "CHAEP".