Building a Tower Activity

What I thought was really genius about this article was the costs of the supplies and the manpower are built into the activity. The project also uses such simple materials that it would be ... See More

What I thought was really genius about this article was the costs of the supplies and the manpower are built into the activity. The project also uses such simple materials that it would be very economical to put into practice. In addition, I love that each of the students in the group has a job that they are responsible for in the lab. This activity could be changed to build any type of structure and very little has to be changed. I think this would work well at the beginning of the year to have the students learn to work together as a group.

Cost Effect Structures Designed for Safety

The authors grab your attention by relating two stories where safety and engineering were compromised: a bridge collapse that killed 13 people in Minneapolis and a balcony tragedy in Illinoi... See More

The authors grab your attention by relating two stories where safety and engineering were compromised: a bridge collapse that killed 13 people in Minneapolis and a balcony tragedy in Illinois also killing 13. The article contains a series of lessons where student groups design and build a tower that is both inexpensive and safe. A real world problem is tackled as students take on various STEM career roles (architects, engineers, construction workers, accountants, etc.) Ethics, finances, and safety all have to be addressed as groups build their towers. A rubric with design, construction, and fiscal management elements is included to help students understand the components being assessed in the project. The set of lessons is estimated to take about 7 to 10 class periods to complete.