"Towers" Resources
TOWERS PART ONE: Intro to Towers - (1-2 Classes)
Introduce the topic of Towers. Examining the purpose of towers - they were used as a lookout, to fit lots of people into one place in big cities, as a tourist attraction, etc. Look at famous towers and how they differ or are similar. Mini-Experiments to help understand why towers need wide bases. What do towers have in common (big base, pointed top). Build a tower out of paper using their new knowledge, fill in provided worksheet.
Intro to Towers Lesson Plan
Intro to Towers Notebook File Link
Intro to Towers Notebook File as a PowerPoint
Tower 1 drawing and reflection Worksheet
TOWERS PART 2: Towers & Wind (1 Class)
Consider how the paper towers wouldn't be very strong outside in the wind. 2 teacher-led experiments showing how wind would effect a tower (blow dryer and cardboard boxes). One flat box demonstrates wind resistance, the next box which has holes cut out of it demonstrates less resistance because the wind can pass through it. Trying to brainstorm ways to make the simple towers more effective by adding weights, anchoring them down, using better materials, etc.
Towers & Wind Lesson Plan
Towers & Wind Notebook File Link
Towers & Wind Notebook File as a PowerPoint
Towers & Wind Observation & Reflection Worksheet
TOWERS PART 3: Wind & Trusses (1 Class)
Wrapping up talking about towers by remembering the experiment from last class - the triangle shapes in the towers that had holes in them, these are called trusses. Examining buildings that fail in wind, and houses that survive tornados. Recognizing some of the structural elements that contribute to building success such as having a good foundation, anchoring to the base, and the use of diagonal lines called trusses to make the structures strong. 3 small experiments to show trusses. Teacher leads in showing how truss (diagonal) pieces are longer than other pieces and how adding a truss keeps shapes from shifting (with a good chance for some math integration as well!) Then the teacher builds a cube from toothpicks and marshmallows and demonstrates the strength, and students break off to try the same experiment but they also get to add truss pieces to see how much stronger their cubes are.
Wind & Trusses Lesson Plan
Wind & Trusses Notebook File Link
Wind & Trusses Notebook file as a PowerPoint
Wind & Trusses 2 experiment Worksheets
Introduce the topic of Towers. Examining the purpose of towers - they were used as a lookout, to fit lots of people into one place in big cities, as a tourist attraction, etc. Look at famous towers and how they differ or are similar. Mini-Experiments to help understand why towers need wide bases. What do towers have in common (big base, pointed top). Build a tower out of paper using their new knowledge, fill in provided worksheet.
Intro to Towers Lesson Plan
Intro to Towers Notebook File Link
Intro to Towers Notebook File as a PowerPoint
Tower 1 drawing and reflection Worksheet
TOWERS PART 2: Towers & Wind (1 Class)
Consider how the paper towers wouldn't be very strong outside in the wind. 2 teacher-led experiments showing how wind would effect a tower (blow dryer and cardboard boxes). One flat box demonstrates wind resistance, the next box which has holes cut out of it demonstrates less resistance because the wind can pass through it. Trying to brainstorm ways to make the simple towers more effective by adding weights, anchoring them down, using better materials, etc.
Towers & Wind Lesson Plan
Towers & Wind Notebook File Link
Towers & Wind Notebook File as a PowerPoint
Towers & Wind Observation & Reflection Worksheet
TOWERS PART 3: Wind & Trusses (1 Class)
Wrapping up talking about towers by remembering the experiment from last class - the triangle shapes in the towers that had holes in them, these are called trusses. Examining buildings that fail in wind, and houses that survive tornados. Recognizing some of the structural elements that contribute to building success such as having a good foundation, anchoring to the base, and the use of diagonal lines called trusses to make the structures strong. 3 small experiments to show trusses. Teacher leads in showing how truss (diagonal) pieces are longer than other pieces and how adding a truss keeps shapes from shifting (with a good chance for some math integration as well!) Then the teacher builds a cube from toothpicks and marshmallows and demonstrates the strength, and students break off to try the same experiment but they also get to add truss pieces to see how much stronger their cubes are.
Wind & Trusses Lesson Plan
Wind & Trusses Notebook File Link
Wind & Trusses Notebook file as a PowerPoint
Wind & Trusses 2 experiment Worksheets
"Bridges" Resources
Work through these SmartBoard files in order as they correspond with lesson plans and corresponding worksheets and experiments. Over the course of these couple of weeks students will learn about 7 different types of bridges, view experiments to show how each bridge works, and then use their new knowledge to participate in a Final Bridge Building Project which is focused around the 3 Billy Goats Gruff and incorporates cost into their building plans.
NOTE: The whole Bridges section is grouped together onto one BIG Notebook file attached below (with links to videos and worksheets)
BRIDGES Notebook File Link
BRIDGES Notebook File as a PowerPoint
INTRO TO BRIDGES (1 Class)
Slides 1-6 on the Bridges Notebook File
Intro to Bridges Lesson Plan
BEAM BRIDGES (1 Class)
Slides 7-12 on the Bridges Notebook File
Beam Bridges Lesson Plan
ARCH BRIDGES (1 Class)
Slides 13-16 on the Bridges Notebook File
Arch Bridges Lesson Plan
CABLE BRIDGES (SUSPENSION & CABLE-STAY) (1 Class)
Slides 17-19 on the Bridges Notebook File
Cable Bridges Lesson Plan
COVERED BRIDGES (1 Cass)
Slides 20-24 on the Bridges Notebook File
Covered Bridges Lesson Plan
CANTILEVER BRIDGES, TRUSS BRIDGES, & INTRO TO FINAL PROJECT (1 Class)
Slides 25-29 on the Bridges Notebook File
Final 2 Bridge types, Intro to "3 Billy Goats Bridge" Final Project Lesson Plan
FINAL BRIDGE BUILDING PROJECT (2-4 Classes)
Slides 28-33 on the Bridges Notebook File OR ALL of the Final Bridges Assignment Notebook File
Day 1 Lesson Plan - Buying materials, start building
Day 2 Lesson Plan - Materials Sale, building continued
Day 3 Lesson Plan - Set up bridges, Testing day
* Some experiments from these lesson plans were borrowed or altered from the Edmonton Public School Science resource packages, as well as various Bridge books from our local libraries at the time*