Curated OER
Be a Structural Engineer!
Students investigate how to design and build items with a focus on structural strength as an engineer would. They complete a truss-building project as a final assessment.
Nature
Non-Structural Hazards
Buildings often have decorative components and furnishings that can pose a hazard during an earthquake. Learners examine the classroom for such non-structural features. They consider fictional scenarios and discuss what actions would be...
Perkins School for the Blind
Testing the Strength of a Column
Columns have been used throughout the world because they are good load-bearing structures. Learners with visual impairments conduct an experiment to work through the design process as well as to understand this engineering phenomenon....
Teach Engineering
Strength of Materials
Pupils examine a stress-strain diagram that compares the advantages and disadvantages of the two common bridge building materials, concrete and steel. The also consider the factors that influence the materials builders choose for their...
Curated OER
The Nature of Covalent Bonding
In "The Nature of Covalent Bonding," chemistry hopefuls demonstrate an understanding of various types of covalent bonds, electron configuration, and resonance structures through fill in the blank, true or false, and matching questions....
Curated OER
Cardboard Structure: Pyramids
High schoolers design a structure made of cardboard pyramids that will hold their weight. In this pyramid structure lesson, students determine a way to make a structure of interlocking pyramids that are sturdy enough to hold a student's...
US Department of Education
School-Home Links elling, self-to-text connections, writing lists, author
Engage families in at-home practice using this 100-page worksheet packet for elementary school English Language Arts practice. Each worksheet briefly explains the objective to parents so they can guide their child through the activity....
Teach Engineering
Bend That Bar
Bend it, but don't break it. Groups investigate the strength of different materials. Using a procedure in the seventh segment of a 22-part series on aviation, pupils determine how far a rod will bend. They determine the strength-to-mass...
Curated OER
Shapes That Make Structures Strong
Learners study the various shapes engineers choose to make structures strong -- in particular, triangles, arches, and domes. They construct a variety of forms, and discuss how tension and compression are distributed by triangles,...
Curated OER
Paper Structures
Learners study material strength and how it varies with shape and arrangement. In this paper structures instructional activity students work in teams to build a portable paper structure that can support the weight of a book.
Curated OER
Shapes that Make Structures Strong
Students construct a variety of forms, test their strength, and discuss how tension and compression are distributed by triangles, arches, and domes.
Curated OER
Earthquake Proof Structures
Eighth graders build a structure that is able to withstand a simulated earthquake. They research earthquakes, earthquake measurement, and society's preparation for and reaction to them. Pupils build models and present them to the...
Curated OER
2007 U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad Local Section Exam
Sixty multiple choice questions cover the entire gamut of chemistry concepts. This is the local section of the U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad, where your chemistry candidates take a shot at entering the national competition. They...
Curated OER
The Strength of Shapes
In this scientific investigation worksheet, students follow the provided procedures to examine the strength of shapes and then respond to 4 short answer questions.
DiscoverE
Critical Load
Help your class master the important concept of critical load. Pupils work together to build a structure using 12 playing cards. They test the critical load of the structure using pennies or paper clips.
Curated OER
Hazards: Fourth Grade Lesson Plans and Activities
Learn about damage associated with earthquakes and materials that best withstand a quake. A lab engages class members in the experimental design and construction of sturdy structures that can endure various earthquake intensities. Groups...
Science Matters
Earthquake Building/Shaking Contest
Japan is one of only a handful of countries that constructs buildings that are almost earthquake proof. The 13th lesson in the 20-part series challenges scholars to build structures to test against earthquakes. With limited materials and...
Kenan Fellows
Least Squares Linear Regression in R
The task? Determine the how effective hospitals are at reducing the rate of hospital-acquired infections. The method? Data analysis! Using an open source software program, individuals use provided data and create scatterplots to look for...
Concord Consortium
Factors Affecting London Dispersion Attractions
How can non-polar molecules be attracted to one another? Introduce the phenomenon of London dispersion forces to young chemists through an entertaining interactive. Pupils choose from a variety of molecular shape combinations, then pull...
Curated OER
House Structure Strength
Students build houses out of legos. They create the strongest model with the "drop test" in mind. They must build a structure that will pass the drop test. (Teacher drops from waist to the ground)
Teach Engineering
Hurricanes
When a levee fails, it means disaster. Introduce your class to hurricanes and the technologies used to help protect against them. The included presentation provides background information using Hurricane Katrina as a reference.
Curated OER
2005 U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad - Local Section Exam
National Chemistry Olympiad tests are released after their use each year, since they cannot use them again for this event. The result: outstanding comprehensive assessment resources for general chemistry classes! This 2005 version covers...
Curated OER
A Lab Demonstration: Three dimensional view of soft internal structures of bony material
Students discuss the structures of a bone and observe a demonstration of bony materials.
Curated OER
Primary Structural Forms: Post and Beam
Students examine the three primary structural forms of architecture. They view photos, take a walking tour of their community, conduct strength tests of post, beam, and arch construction, and analyze the test results.