Unleashing Creativity and Learning with Building Bridges
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?
"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.
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."
