Covers: Activity Resources Relation to National Curriculum Downloads
Activity One - Classifying And Comparing Bridges

Activity 1

Classifying And Comparing Bridges
Activity Two - Local Bridge Observation

Activity 2

Local Bridge Observation
Activity Three - Investigating Bridge Shapes

Activity 3

Investigating Bridge Shapes
STEM Activity
Activity Four - Investigating Suspension Bridges

Activity 4

Investigating Suspension Bridges
STEM Activity
Activity Five - Spaghetti And Marshmallow Bridge

Activity 5

Spaghetti And Marshmallow Bridge
STEM Activity
Activity Six - Design And Build A Bridge

Activity 6

Design And Build A Bridge
STEM Activity
Activity Seven - Isambard Kingdom Brunel Timeline

Activity 7

Isambard Kingdom Brunel Timeline
Fieldtrips

Structures built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel

Isambard Kingdom Brunel, one of the most influential engineers of the 19th century, is renowned for his extensive contributions to civil, mechanical, and marine engineering. Here are some of his most notable structures:

Bridges

  • Clifton Suspension Bridge: Spanning the Avon Gorge in Bristol, this bridge was one of Brunel's early designs and remains an iconic structure.
  • Maidenhead Railway Bridge: Known for having the flattest brick arch in the world at the time of its construction.
  • Chepstow Bridge: A significant railway bridge over the River Wye.
  • Royal Albert Bridge: Also known as the Saltash Bridge, it spans the River Tamar between Plymouth and Saltash.

Railways

  • Great Western Railway (GWR): Brunel was the chief engineer for the GWR, which included the construction of over 1,600 km of railway lines in the West Country, the Midlands, South Wales, and Ireland. The GWR was notable for its broad gauge, which allowed for higher speeds.
  • Box Tunnel: A significant engineering achievement on the GWR line.

Ships

  • SS Great Western: The first steamship to provide regular transatlantic service, launched in 1837.
  • SS Great Britain: Launched in 1843, it was the first large iron-hulled steamship driven by a screw propeller.
  • SS Great Eastern: Originally called Leviathan, launched in 1858, it was the largest ship in the world at the time and was notable for laying the first successful transatlantic cable.

Tunnels and Docks

  • Thames Tunnel: Brunel worked on this project under his father's direction, which was a pioneering underwater tunnel beneath the River Thames.
  • Bristol Docks: Brunel carried out extensive improvements here.
  • Monkwearmouth Docks: Designed in 1831.
  • Milford Haven: Another significant dock project by Brunel.
  • Other Structures: Renkioi Hospital - A prefabricated hospital designed during the Crimean War, which significantly reduced mortality rates compared to its predecessor.

Brunel's innovative designs and engineering prowess left a lasting impact on public transport and modern engineering, making him one of the most celebrated engineers in history.

Building Bridges Activities

Activity 1 - Classifying And Comparing Bridges

Activity 1

Classifying And Comparing Bridges

Hands-On Activities:
Activity 2 - Local Bridge Observation

Activity 2

Local Bridge Observation

Hands-On Activities:
Activity 3 - Investigating Bridge Shapes

Activity 3

Investigating Bridge Shapes

Hands-On Activities:
Activity 4 - Investigating Suspension Bridges

Activity 4

Investigating Suspension Bridges

Hands-On Activities:
Activity 5 - Spaghetti And Marshmallow Bridge

Activity 5

Spaghetti And Marshmallow Bridge

Hands-On Activities:
Activity 6 - Design And Build A Bridge

Activity 6

Design And Build A Bridge

Hands-On Activities:

Building Bridges Booklist

Unleashing Creativity and Learning with Building Bridges

Building Bridges Activity

In this teacher created lesson, the activity simulates real-life processes utilized by engineers and scientists. Through the exploration of structures, students get the chance to investigate various methods of building and determine which ones result in the tallest and strongest structures. By testing their prototype buildings, students engage in a process similar to real-life testing.

Students and home educated primary aged children also have the opportunity to rebuild and modify their designs, replicating the process of redevelopment and prototyping. Through these hands-on experiences, students gain valuable insights into the real-life processes engineers and scientists undertake, such as testing, redevelopment, and prototyping, to improve the functionality and efficiency of their designs.

How can teachers help students improve their designs during the activity?

"The objective of this lesson is to explore structures and investigate what methods of building can make the tallest and strongest structure. By testing their prototype buildings, students will have the opportunity to rebuild and alter their designs to improve them, giving an insight into the real-life processes of testing, redevelopment and prototyping that engineers and scientists use. Throughout these activities, students will also have the opportunity to create bar and line graphs to present their findings. This will help them to better understand how to analyze and present data in a visually engaging way. Additionally, they will learn about the concept of apparent movement and how it can impact the perception of a bridge's stability. By the end of these activities, students will be able to draw conclusions about the science behind building bridges, answer questions about their findings, and actively engage in a cyclical process of testing, evaluating, and making improvements to their designs based on the results of their tests. This iterative approach allows students to learn from their initial designs and make adjustments to create taller and stronger structures."

What is the objective of the Spaghetti Challenge STEM activity?

Building Bridges Activity

"The objective of the Spaghetti And Marshmallow Bridge activity is to engage students in a hands-on design and building challenge using spaghetti and marshmallows. Through this activity, students will have the opportunity to apply their knowledge of design, math, and engineering principles to create a bridge structure using only these materials. By testing and evaluating their bridges, students will learn about the importance of structural stability and the forces at play in bridge construction. This activity promotes critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and teamwork as students work together to design and build a bridge that can support the weight of a book.

Moreover, this activity goes beyond the surface level of design and construction. It provides a practical application for math and engineering concepts, allowing students to see how these principles are used in real-life situations. By engaging in the Spaghetti And Marshmallow Bridge challenge, students will gain a deeper understanding of the science and engineering behind bridge construction. They will also develop their creativity and collaboration skills as they work together to overcome challenges and improve their designs.

Building Bridges Activity

In addition, this activity mirrors real-life processes used by engineers and scientists. Students will have the opportunity to test their prototype bridges, rebuild and alter their designs to improve them, and gain valuable insights into the iterative processes of testing, redevelopment, and prototyping. This hands-on experience will help students grasp the importance of testing and refining their designs to achieve the tallest and strongest structure possible.

Overall, the Spaghetti And Marshmallow Bridge activity aims to foster creativity, collaboration, and a deeper understanding of the science and engineering principles behind bridge construction. By participating in this challenge, students will not only enhance their problem-solving skills but also gain practical knowledge that can be applied in their future endeavours as engineers, architects, or scientists."

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