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STEM Challenge: Shaking Towers!
STEM Challenge: Shaking Towers!
Earthquakes are one of nature’s most powerful forces. Engineers around the world work hard to design buildings that can stay standing when the ground begins to shake. In this challenge, you will step into the role of a structural engineer to test your own designs against the power of an earthquake.
Your task is to:
Build an Earthquake Simulator – a shaking platform that mimics the movements of the Earth.
Use a BBC Micro:bit to collect live data – measuring how strong the shaking is.
3. Design and construct a tower – strong enough to stay standing in gentle shakes, yet realistic enough to collapse when the shaking becomes violent.
You will need to think like real engineers: plan, test, record data, and improve your design. Which structures can bend and sway without breaking? Which will topple when the shaking grows too strong?
By the end of this challenge, you’ll discover how science, technology, engineering, and mathematics come together to solve real-world problems—and you’ll get to watch your creations put to the test!
An earthquake can be measured on the Richter scale using a seismograph.
An earthquake can be measured on the Richter scale using a seismograph.
Coding with the Micro:bit
Coding with the Micro:bit
The coding for this lesson is intentionally simple – you don’t need to be a coding expert to get started.
Follow the provided sheets to code and test your Micro:bit sensor.
These will guide you step by step.
Start with the basics: display readings and check that your Micro:bit responds when the simulator shakes.
Collect data in multiple ways.
Try recording maximum shake strength.
Test how long the shaking lasts.
Compare gentle, medium, and violent shaking.
Extend your skills.
Challenge yourself to monitor the live data remotely.
Use radio signals or pairing to send readings to another Micro:bit or device.
👉 Remember: good engineers test more than once. The more data you collect, the clearer your results will be!
Exit Task
Exit Task
Exit Task: Earthquake Engineering Reflection
Exit Task: Earthquake Engineering Reflection
Before you leave today, complete the following steps as a group:
Open a Google Document
Title the page: Earthquake Simulator Challenge – Exit Task
Add the names of all group members at the top.
Insert Visual Evidence
Add pictures/screenshots of your code.
Add data collection evidence (graphs, tables, or screenshots from the Micro:bit).
Add a photo of your earthquake model.
Answer These Questions (in full sentences):
What have you learned during this challenge?
What worked well in your design or testing?
How did you make your earthquake simulator predictable and fair for testing?
Final Step
Print the document before you exit class.
Seismic Sensor
Seismic Sensor
Note: Different styled coding blocks are used in this video. They are very similar to the current blocks if you look closely.
The Receiver
The Receiver
Use radio to send and receive code! Have you tried it?
What is quality work?
What is quality work?
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