What Is This Activity?
In this activity, children are given the opportunity
to build some structure using a variety of parts, then adapt and improve
the structure to meet added constraints.
What Do The Children Do?
This project is geared towards letting children
decide how they want to do things on their own. Children will work
in groups of 3 or 4 with a box of pieces. Each group then has a choice
of a number of different structures to build using these parts. Initially,
the children only have to build a very simple structure. However,
once this is built, additional constraints or requirements are added to
the problem. The children are then free to decide how best to meet
the new requirements, by modifying the original structure, building a new
but similar structure, or starting from scratch.
What Engineering Will They Learn?
This project is a very simple design and analysis
process. The goal is for the children to learn about generating ideas
at the beginning of the process, then look at what they've done and change
it as they learn about its limitations and advantages. In the meanwhile,
the various structures should also involve choices of materials, knowledge
of structurally sound arrangements, general problem solving, and teamwork.
How Will They Learn It?
In generating ideas and attempting to put them into
practice at the beginning of the project, children will learn about engineering
design. They will need to use their own knowledge and set of materials
to create the initial structure. When they build the structure, they
will learn what works and what doesn't, and use this to meet new constraints
place upon their product. This will teach them how to analyze their
structures in a rudimentary way in order to make improvements and changes.
During the entire time, they will have to make decisions about where to
use their various materials, learn what structures and shapes are strong
and what aren't, solve problems, and work as a team. It will largely
be a process of trial and error, where the children get to try ideas themselves
to see what works.
What Are These Structures And What Are These
Constraints?
At this point, we have ideas for three choices of
structures: bridge, tower, or boat.
The increasing constraints on each structure so
far are:
Bridge 1. First, just build anything
that will cross certain distance (we hope to actually have a tray of water
to cross)
2. Now, create or modify a bridge so that a toy car can travel the
length of it
3. Now strengthen the bridge to support a weight
Tower 1. Freely enclose an object
2. Build to a certain height
3. Support a load
Boat 1. Build
a floating boat
2. Make it float carrying a load
3. Add a sail without unbalancing the boat
What Materials Will Be In The Box?
So far, we would like to include metal blocks, plastic
blocks, foam blocks, popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners, toothpicks, clay,
rubber bands, dowels, cardboard, paper, paperclips and string.
What Age Is The Activity Aimed Towards?
We believe this activity is best suited for students
around fifth grade.
Does The Activity Teach Something About Engineering
And What Engineers Do?
Yes. As stated before it introduces children
to the process of generating ideas and learning from those ideas to make
improvements and changes.
Who does the Activity Appeal To?
This activity is designed to give children
a number of choices. Furthermore, it is goal-oriented rather than
competitive
and encourages children to use their imaginations to solve a problem
however they want.
Can The Activity Engage A Large Number Of Children?
By breaking into groups with their own structures,
this project can accomodate 30 children simeultaneously.
Is It Safe And Durable?
The parts are small, non-toxic parts that are safe
under usual circumstances and relatively strong.
Is The Activity Transportable?
The pieces can easily be stored in a small amount
of space.