Bridges: The Art and Science for Creating Community Connections

CONTENTS OF CURRICULUM UNIT 08.04.02

  1. Unit Guide
  1. Introduction
  2. Objectives
  3. Strategies
  4. Appendix 1
  5. Appendix 2
  6. Appendix 3
  7. Appendix 4-Bridge Building Project

Building Bridges in Earthquake Country: From the Past to the Present

Lisa A. Ernst

Published September 2008

Tools for this Unit:

Appendix 4-Bridge Building Project

Objectives:

  • The student will demonstrate the ability to apply the knowledge of various bridges in a model.
  • The student will demonstrate to the ability to reflect this lab in a ""Quick Write"".
  • The student will demonstrate the application of placing the bridge on a shake table (Raft) to simulate an earthquake.

Materials:

  • Craft Glue
  • Modeling Clay
  • Short Popsicle Sticks
  • Standard Popsicle Sticks
  • Scissors
  • Colored Pencils
  • Graph Paper
  • Rulers

image 08.04.02.01

The Diagram to the right is just an example of a possible bridge.

Directions:

First-

  1. The students will need to work with the partner on their right.
  2. The students will need colored pencils, ruler, and graph paper.

Second-

  1. The width of the bridge no wider than 6 inches. The height from the base no taller than 10 inches from the base. The length of the bridge no longer than 12 inches.
  2. The students will illustrate their design on the graph paper a bridge to be built.
  3. The students will then proceed to get the supplies that are needed to build their bridge.
  4. When they have completed their bridge building, they will place the bridge on two shake tables.
  5. Then the students will simulate an earthquake.
  6. In a reflection that was given to the students, they will respond to a few questions on their experience on bridge building and what they have discovered from this lab.

Comments:

Lisa A. Ernst

July 7, 2009 at 12:01 am

Revisions to this Unit

As the original author of this unit, I would like to inform the reader of two new areas of interest. First of all, knowing that I had wide variety of labs and activities, I needed to locate funding. I turned to Donors Choose. This funding is open to teachers all across the nation. I submitted a grant using the above title of this unit and received over 600.00. This amount covered books on bridges, clay, blocks, etc. Second of all I added an art component to this unit. Working with my art teacher, she and were able to guide the students in groups to design, and build bridges out of clay. They were fired in the kiln and glazed. Two of the bridges were submitted to the SFUSD art show under project based learning, and the others were auctioned off at our school Gala.

Lisa A Ernst

February 19, 2021 at 2:44 pm

As the the author of this specific project

Some updates: Now aligned to the Common Core and the NGSS. Awarded the Sylvia Shugrue from NSTA on this unit in 2014. Donors Choose funding, which enabled this unit to be integrated into a Makerspace. Which contains, a 3D printer, 3D pens, and hand tools to make model bridges.

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