Classroom activities at Bridges Academy intentionally focus on students' social-emotional development in addition to academic skills. Progressive education strives to embed opportunities in the curriculum for students to practice the skills and understandings necessary to communicate, collaborate, and otherwise successfully interact with their peers. Students will often work in considered groups to accomplish a shared goal; for instance, students will collaborate during design and construction labs producing written and verbal reports and presentations, enhanced with visuals where appropriate to a student's learning trajectory.
All topics that students confront with great depth and complexity will render possibilities to develop values, social-emotional awareness, and understandings; this course both creates and capitalizes on teachable moments.
Students will learn how to accurately measure and record data. Knowing how to take measurements is critically important when analyzing motion. We will learn how to properly use measuring tools to take measurements. We will practice the proper techniques for using common instruments and explore different units of measure, compare units, and convert units.
Students will learn about forces, support structures and how weight and forces are distributed. Students will build a bridge using only popsicle sticks and glue (there will be a weight and size limitations).
Student will build pinewood derby cars to discover how mass relates to speed (acceleration). Once build, the cars will be rolled down a track. The size, weight, and material of the wheels can also contribute to the performance of the car.
Conducting the Activities
Items sold in stores are usually labeled with their quantity (mass, length). For this activity, students will explore different units of measure, compare units, and convert units. Some questions we could ask are: Is there more liquid in a half gallon of milk or a 2 liter of soda? Is this roll of paper towels longer than this roll of aluminum foil? How many rolls of paper towels would it take it span a football field?
Students will learn about support structures and how weight and forces are distributed.
Students will learn about the different types of bridges (suspension, arch, cantilever, etc…) . We will watch a video on bridges that have collapsed and discussed what we think took place. Students will build a bridge using only popsicle sticks and glue (there will be a weight and size limitations).