Winter Springs: Wednesday’s 11:00-12:00
Lake Mary: Monday’s 12:30-1:30
Through the process of discovery and investigation students will learn about loads, forces, stress, compression and tension that structures must overcome. This unit deals with the investigation of shapes that will make a structure strong and able to withstand different forces. We start with defining an objective to build a tower, bridge or other structure. The students will then design and test what they build to determine how much stress and tension their design can withstand. When their prototype is completed and tested they will make changes to improve their structures.
As we build bridges we will be learning about different types of bridges: arch, beam, cable-stayed, suspension and truss bridges. Students will learn about the structures, the shapes used in each and the strengths and weaknesses of them.
Throughout this unit students are using the scientific method: making observations, experimenting, testing and drawing conclusions.
