Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Bridge Types: Tensile & Compressive Forces

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore how tension and compression forces act on three different bridge types. Using sponges, cardboard and string, they create models of beam, arch and suspension bridges and apply forces to understand how they disperse or...
Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Strong as the Weakest Link

For Teachers 9th - 10th
To introduce the two types of stress that materials undergo - compression and tension - students examine compressive and tensile forces and learn about bridges and skyscrapers. They construct their own building structure using...
Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Stressed and Strained

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students are introduced to the concepts of stress and strain with examples that illustrate the characteristics and importance of these forces in our everyday lives. They explore the factors that affect stress, why engineers need to know...
Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Bridging the Gaps

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers are presented with a brief history of bridges as they learn about the three main bridge types: beam, arch and suspension. They are introduced to two natural forces - tension and compression - common to all bridges and...