Grade 8

In this unit, students build a model bridge out of bamboo coffee stirrers and hot glue. Although the materials are humble, but using the principles of balanced forces in bridge substructures and superstructures, bridges are built to support 40 pounts of weight suspended below.

In this project students design and build a lantern out of balsa wood and tissue paper. We emphasize the skills needed for them to create a blueprint with accurate dimensions. Building successfully then requires precision in measurement and careful execution of the plan.

Students design model cars using cardboard and popsicle sticks with the goal of creating a vehicle that will maintain as much velocity and consistent direction as possible after it travels down a ramp. This project relies on principles of physics such as momentum and potential energny.

Students build scale models of mansions in Minecraft. They learn to read real architectural blueprints and convert the 2D representations of floor plans into a full 3D model using the building tools in the game.