Lesson Planet
Search educational resources
  • Sign In Try It Free
  • AI Teacher Tools
    • Discover Resources Search reviewed educational resources by keyword, subject, grade, type, and more
    • Curriculum Manager (My Content) Manage saved and uploaded resources and folders To Access the Curriculum Manager Sign In or Join Now
    • Browse Resource Directory Browse educational resources by subject and topic
    • Curriculum Calendar Explore curriculum resources by date
    • Lesson Planning Articles Timely and inspiring teaching ideas that you can apply in your classroom
    • Our Story
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Testimonials
    • Contact Us
  • Pricing
  • School Access
    • Your school or district can sign up for Lesson Planet — with no cost to teachers
      Learn More
  • Sign In
  • Try It Free

Hi, what do you want to do?

Create a lesson plan
Create a lesson plan
Generate resources with 80+ AI teacher tools
Generate resources with 80+ AI teacher tools
Search 200,000 instructional videos
Search 200,000 instructional videos
Find a teaching resource
Find a teaching resource
Waterproofing the Roof ActivityWaterproofing the Roof Activity
Publisher
DiscoverE
Resource Details
Curator Rating
Educator Rating
Not yet Rated
Grade
3rd - 8th
Subjects
STEM
3 more...
Resource Type
Activities & Projects
Audience
For Teacher Use
Duration
45 mins
Instructional Strategies
Collaborative Learning
5 more...
Technology
Scientific Equipment
Usage Permissions
Fine Print
Activity

Waterproofing the Roof

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet
This Waterproofing the Roof activity also includes:
  • Project
  • Vocabulary
  • Join to access all included materials

Can your pupils build a roof that stands the test of time? Use an insightful engineering design project to highlight both materials science and architecture. Scholars either team up or work as individuals to design, create, and test a roof to determine which features and building materials allow water to run off and keep the inside of their structures dry.

79 Views 53 Downloads
CCSS: Adaptable

Concepts

engineering design, building materials, buildings, precipitation, snow, rain, making observations, absorption, capillary action, climates, architecture, technology resources

Instructional Ideas

  • Have participants build their own complete structures to examine how roof design plays a role in water runoff
  • Produce quantitative data by having groups build roofs for plastic bins, then measure the amount of water in the bin after testing

Classroom Considerations

  • Execute the project as a group activity for younger students and as an individual assignment for older ones
  • The build requires a large amount of consumable materials on hand for each structure, so stock up ahead of time

Pros

  • The wide array of materials available for the project gives learners insight into materials science
  • Directions are written clearly and easy to follow
  • Teacher's guide includes materials lists, assessment ideas, and discussion questions

Cons

  • None

Common Core

RST.6-8.3

See similar resources:

Lesson Plan

Waterproof that Roof!

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Stop the raindrops from getting into the house! Eager engineers learn about roofing history and waterproofing by nanotechnology. They get into groups and work on designing a waterproof roof for a small model house. The accompanying...
3rd - 12th Science
CCSS: Adaptable
Lesson Plan

Building for Hurricanes: Engineering Design Challenge

NASA
"By the hair on your chinny-chin-chin, I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house in," says the big, bad wolf! Engineering hopefuls are challenged to design and construct a hurricane-proof building from simple office and craft...
5th - 8th STEM
Activity

Build a Watershed

DiscoverE
What's the best way to learn how watersheds work? Build one! Combining engineering, the water cycle, and ecology concerns, the activity is the perfect fit for an interdisciplinary unit. Teams construct a model watershed with simple...
3rd - 8th Science
CCSS: Adaptable
Lesson Plan

Waterproof that Roof!

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Learners design and build model houses, with an emphasis on waterproof roofs. They perform tests to see if their models are as waterproof as they think.
3rd - 12th STEM
Activity

Simple Machines Design Project

Science Companion
Make your work as a teacher a little easier with a physical science project on simple machines. After introducing young scientists to these devices and identifying their different uses around the school, this project engages...
3rd - 6th Science
CCSS: Adaptable
Activity

Build a Bobsled Racer

DiscoverE
Host a design challenge of Olympic proportion! Junior engineers build their own bobsleds using simple materials. The activity focuses on kinetic and potential energy and how the center of mass affects motion on a downhill track....
3rd - 8th Science
CCSS: Adaptable
Activity

Bridges, Buildings and Beyond Activity Packet: Grades 3-5

DiscoverE
The road to a better understanding of engineering lies with bridges and tunnels. A set of four engaging activities teaches learners about engineering concepts related to construction projects. They perform an experiment to find the...
3rd - 5th STEM
Activity

Build an Earthquake-Resistant Structure

DiscoverE
Future engineers design and build structures out of toothpicks and marshmallows. They then make sure the structures can withstand an earthquake simulator!
3rd - 8th Science
Lesson Plan

Smithsonian Learning Lab: Building Up, Breaking Down

Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian in the Classroom presents Building Up, Breaking Down. Teachers can download this comprehensive teaching package in which students investigate how buildings weather. See what happens to a building once it has been erected....
3rd - 8th Visual & Performing Arts
Lesson Plan

Strength of Materials

Teach Engineering
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...
6th - 8th STEM
CCSS: Designed
Try It Free
© 1999-2026 Learning Explorer, Inc.
Teacher Lesson Plans, Worksheets and Resources

Sign up for the Lesson Planet Monthly Newsletter

Open Educational Resources (OER)

  • Health
  • Language Arts
  • Languages
  • Math
  • Physical Education
  • Science
  • Social Studies
  • Special Education
  • Visual and Performing Arts
View All Lesson Plans

Discover Resources

  • Our Review Process
  • How it Works
  • How to Search
  • Create a Collection

Manage Curriculum

  • Edit a Collection
  • Assign to Students
  • Manage My Content
Contact Us Site Map Privacy Policy Terms of Use