Looking at bridge construction is a great way to investigate the factors that influence the choice of construction materials and design. Look at bridge design in your local area and compare the considerations for each design; age and available technology, span distance, purpose. Look at some traditional bridge building methods.
A well loved classroom challenge investigating bridge design solutions.
Another example of a lesson outline for bridge construction activity
This cool game from Physics Games.Com can be embedded into your classroom blog for students to investigate the forces involved in bridge construction. Bridge Constructor is an iPad alternative.
Year 3 – 4
- Investigate how forces and the properties of materials affect the behaviour of a product or system (ACTDEK011)
- Investigate the suitability of materials, systems, components, tools and equipment for a range of purposes (ACTDEK013)
- Critique needs or opportunities for designing and explore and test a variety of materials, components, tools and equipment and the techniques needed to produce designed solutions (ACTDEP014)
Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority [ACARA] (2014). Design and Technologies: Foundation to Year 10 curriculum. Retrieved from http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/technologies/design-and-technologies/Curriculum/F-10
This bridge is 1000 years old.
Click on the link for more information. What similarities can students find in the design solutions chosen by the craftsmen who built this bridge compared to modern bridge designs.
Capture the challenge and upload it to your class blog.
H.O.T. Question It
- How does the building materials of past bridge technology compare with those used today?
- Are some bridge designs more suitable for specific purposes? Why?
- Evaluate the designs used in the class bridge making activity, were some shapes more effective? Why?
- How can we analyse the data collected to improve our designs?
Year 3 – 4
- Work with others to plan the creation and communication of ideas and information safely, applying agreed ethical and social protocols (ACTDIP013)
Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority [ACARA] (2014). Digital Technologies: Foundation to Year 10 curriculum. Retrieved from http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/technologies/digital-technologies/Curriculum/F-10
H.O.T. Topics for the Australian Curriculum 