BRIDGES
MATERIALS:
Students will need a computer with Internet access.
Each group will need the following materials.
- One
piece of plywood at least 3’ X 2’
- 4
Eye Screws
- Different
strengths of copper wire and/or fishing wire
- Alligator
Clips
Poster board or card board
or craft board- Acrylic,
PVC, and nylon rods of different lengths and thickness.
- PVC
Blocks / Wood Blocks
- Meter
stick
PROCEDURE:
1. Divide your students into groups, provide each group
with the necessary materials, and challenge each group to build a bridge that
they think will hold the most weight at the least cost.
2. Allow each group two class periods to research bridge
engineering. They should find out the basic principles of the three main kinds
of bridges: suspension, beam, and arch. They should also research different
bridges that have been built that are of sound structure and some that have
failed.
3. Allow each group one class period to brainstorm ideas
and look over the materials that they will be working with.
4. After the students have done the research work and
examining of the materials, spend a class period with them fully explaining the
spreadsheet design program.
5. Students will then use the spreadsheet and print out
at least three different variations of bridges that will work.
6. Students will then begin to build their bridges based
on the spreadsheet design they have chosen.
7. After all bridges have been completed, the students
will test their bridges by seeing how many PVC blocks that they can hold..
8. Students may modify their bridges at this point and
return to the spreadsheet to try to design a stronger bridge.
9. When all the students have completed their bridges,
each individual will write a report based on their findings and about their experiences
of working with groups and designing their bridge. They can include what they
would change if they had to do it over and what they thought went well.
EVALUATION: Students were evaluated based on four areas:
1.
How they worked together and how their
preliminary work involving research and spreadsheet design was organized.
2.
How closely their actual bridge design matched
the results that their spreadsheets gave them.
3.
How low their cost was compared to the actual
weight that their bridges held .
4.
How well the final report involving the project
was written.
The
first three components of this evaluation will be a group evaluation and the
fourth will be an individual grade.
Standards Covered:
M2 Geometry and Measurement
Concepts
M3 Function and Algebra Concepts
M5 Problem Solving and
Mathematical Reasoning
M6 Mathematical Skills and Tools
M7 Mathematical Communication
M8 Putting Mathematics to Work
S4 Scientific Connections and
Applications
S6 Scientific Tools and Technologies
S8 Scientific Investigation