Reduce, Reuse, Recyle

Engineering Design Challenge Plan

Gail Dickinson

Teacher name:

7th Grade Science

Subject/Grade:

40 minutes

Time required:

Groups of 4

Student teams:

Overview: summary of what students “do” in this problem-based project

Students will engage in a challenge in which they create a tower using marshmallows, spaghetti and tape.

Content required for lesson:

Students must have an understanding of:

Shapes that are used to build structures such as bridges or buildings

Materials and how they react to tension and compression

Weak points, strong points, connections, joints, etc.

Engineering Design Process

Lesson introductory activity:

Students will research on the Internet how structures are created using materials and shapes. They will share the information that they learned from the research with the class in a whole class discussion.

Challenge description: (include final project)

Students will create the tallest spaghetti noodle tower within a certain time limit following a list of criteria.

Criteria and Constraints (include materials needed)

· Tallest tower

· Use as much or little materials as you wish

· Tape cannot be used to attach structure to ground

· Tower will be free standing for at least 10 seconds

· The time limit is 20 minutes

· Materials: 25 spaghetti noodles, 25 mini marshmallows, tape, measuring tape

Connection to real-world:

Teacher will show a presentation or video that explains how different shapes and structures are used in creating buildings, bridges and other structures.

How will this be assessed?

Teacher will use a check list or rubric to asses:

Use of time, cooperation and the successful creation of a structure

Adapted from lesson found at: http://kats.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Spag_towers_instructions.pdf