0% Funded
Only $1,049.00 Needed
Do you know what kind of bridge the Bob Graham Sunshine Skyway here in Tampa is? An arch bridge, a beam or truss bridge, a suspension bridge - do you remember the difference? I hope my students will, as they do hands-on learning for the standard SC.2.P.13.1, Investigate the effect of applying various pushes and pulls on different objects. My students are always interested in practicing with new materials and we are going to be building bridges with different kinds of construction principals. They start with a simple 2D graphic of the bridge they want to create and end with a 3D version of a bridge. The bridge has to be able to hold 2 lbs weight, just like our Tampa bridges have to hold the weight of cars. Now only one question remains - Will their bridge buckle, snap or hold up under weight?
My students are going to learn about the basics of bridge building; beams, arches, trusses and suspension. We are going to look at some of the bridges close to home like the Sunshine Skyway bridge and the Howard Frankland bridge. I have a 3D printer in the classroom which is used for lessons. I will 3D print a few famous bridges of the world https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1621923. After discussing the basics of bridge building, the students have a chance to design their own bridge on a graph paper. They have to consider the length, type and aesthetic design of their bridge. Once the students have their preliminary design down, they will be given craft sticks and any connector they need in order to create a prototype of their bridge design https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3409392
We will also have our classroom bridges where we use two different materials, plastic straws vs balsa wood.
First we are going to use empty, plastic laundry detergent bottles. Yes, that is true - we are going on a recycling adventure and use the Strawbee die-cutting to create connectors for straws and build a modular bridge design using the connectors. How strong is a bridge made of straws?
Next we will create a bridge using 3D printed connectors with balsa wood. Our students always enjoy preparation for our 3D lessons. We have a STL file we want to download and print to connect balsa wood together. https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:887229. Using connectors and different length balsa wood, the students will construct a bridge made of wood.
Finally, we will go back to our original 2D designs and see what changes can be made to improve the bridges. As an educator I like to encourage my students to do higher level thinking. This offers the students a chance to introduce their design into the final product and experiment with ideas that they have gathered based on visual input.
For my students that need a bit more challenge, I have included in this grant the coding and robotics kit for strawbees so I can offer additional design challenges like a working drawbridge, coding the bridge to open if light sensor detects a “boat” coming to the bridge and other fun STEM adventure. It offers differential learning in the classroom where each student is engaged at their comfort level.
When the lessons are done, the materials can be used for other fun projects like creating the Eiffel Tower for social studies.
If this classroom project is granted, I will have the kit to do easy STEM projects using recycled materials for strawbees. It lends itself well to projects on Earth Day and create a play table for STEM nights at the school. The strawbee die-cuts can be used for years to come.
I anticipate the students will retain the knowledge for standard SC.2.P.13.1 and may explore engineering STEM tracks like structural and environmental engineering.
Accucut
https://accucut.com/collections/strawbees:
https://accucut.com/collections/strawbees/products/strawbees-1
https://accucut.com/collections/strawbees/products/strawbees-2
Strawbees
https://www.enasco.com/p/Strawbees%C2%AE-Coding-and-Robotics-Kit%2BSB53161
https://www.enasco.com/p/Strawbees%C2%AE-STEAM-School-Kit%2BSB53162
Balsa
https://www.schoolspecialty.com/balsa-strip-1448292
Wood Glue
https://www.schoolspecialty.com/elmers-interior-wood-glue-white-1366802
Graph Paper
https://www.schoolspecialty.com/graph-paper-pad-085286
Art Paper
https://www.schoolspecialty.com/shop-by-learning-model/makerspace/specialty-shops-makerspace-making/sax-art-paper-white-401972
Craft Sticks
https://www.schoolspecialty.com/creativity-street-wood-craft-stick-pack-of-150-assorted-colors-411173
3D Filament
https://www.schoolspecialty.com/filament-1510625
# | Item Description | Total Cost |
---|---|---|
1 | Strawbees #1 | $110.00 |
2 | Strawbees #2 | $110.00 |
3 | Strawbees® Coding and Robotics Kit | $110.00 |
4 | Strawbees® STEAM School Kit | $400.00 |
5 | Balsa Strip, 1/8 X 1/8 X 36 in, Pack of 36 | $150.00 |
6 | Elmer's Carpenters Wood Glue, 8 Ounces | $16.00 |
7 | School Smart Graph Paper Pad, 8-1/2 x 11 Inches, 1/2 Inch Ruling, 50 Sheets, Pack of 12 Pads | $42.00 |
8 | Sax Colored Art Paper, 9 x 12 Inches, White, 50 Sheets | $6.00 |
9 | Sax Colored Art Paper, 9 x 12 Inches, White, 50 Sheets | $45.00 |
10 | Flash forge 3DFFGPLAGR Filament, 2.2 lb, 1.75 mm, PLA, Green | $60.00 |
Total: | $1,049.00 |
0% Funded
Only $1,049.00 Needed
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