Project 2: Earthquake and Boise River Bridge Design - A Project-based STEM +Computing Inquiry (90 minutes in total including 10 minutes break in the middle of the session)
Overall guiding question: How can we build a bridge for the Boise River that is strong enough to resist earthquake forces?
Sub question: What does a successful bridge model look like?
Learning outcome: Students will demonstrate the functions of different shapes and structures of a bridge.
CT component embedded in student activities:
Abstractions: Based on the previous knowledge of bridges, students will develop designs for bridges
Communication: Students will take notes and make a presentation to the group/class
Introduction to K'nex Set: 30 minutes
A teacher opens the session, “Next week, we will be creating our own bridges using these Knex pieces. Has anyone ever used these before? Let’s take a look at how one boy used these pieces to create a life-size bridge. Our bridges won’t be quite this big, but this video might give you some ideas on how to begin your bridge designs today.” Teacher proceeds to show this video highlighting a large Knex bridge. After the video, the teacher continues to let the students explore the Knex set and get familiar with different parts. The students are encouraged to build a simple bridge (the Chesapeake Bridge) if time permits, as a whole group with each student, or pairs of students working on different parts.
Resources provide for the introduction activity:
A Knex set
Building instructions: Book 1 for Chesapeake Bridge (pages 4 - 9)
Demonstration on Bridge Building: 30 minutes
After students played with Knex set/parts, as a group, the students review Reader 5: Making Strong Structures. Suggested approaches: The teacher can ask for volunteers to read some sections out loud, as the other students follow along. Or divide students into a group of two or three to examine a certain section or shape in Reader 5. For each “Figure”, the student/group demonstrates, with teacher facilitation as needed, by modeling the design in the figure either using Knex pieces (depending on the Figure) or paper. Students comment on the strengths and weaknesses of these design. Reader 5 has instructions for both the teacher and the students on how to approach each specific situation. As each Figure is demonstrated, example questions can be asked such as: How do you think the paper will hold up to stress? Why is it important that bridges hold up under stressful conditions? and What will happen if they are weak? PAUSEs to allow the students time to answer and allow students to share their ideas.
After the students completed the demonstration with Reader 5, direct students to Skill Builder Challenge 5C (pp. 96-98) to investigate the cute figure (highlighted). Students can work in small groups of 2 to 3. Resources provided for the demonstration activity:
Printed Reader 5 "Making Strong Structures" for each learner (or to share) (Pay attention to the highlights & how compression and tension forces work in different structures)
4 pieces of blank paper for each student.
15 Knex Rods (any length) for each student.
15 Knex Connectors (any type) for each student.
The Knex set.
K’NEX Skill Builder 5C (pp. 96-98):
End of Session Reflection and Debriefing: 5-10 minutes
Using the Problem Solving Process diagram, the teacher will ask students to identify what kind of problem solving skills/process/computational thinking they used in this session and explain how they used it. The following are some sample questions that can guide the debrief.
What did I learn today?
What problem solving skills/processes or CT components I used today in this diagram?
How did you use the problem solving skills/processes/CT components?
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