Credits:
This lesson and activity were developed at California University of Pennsylvania by Technology Education majors in Structural Design course. This lesson and activity was worked under the supervision of Dr. Mark Nowak.
The students whodeveloped this lesson and activity included:
This lesson and lab activity was developed at California University of Pennsylvaniapg. 1
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This lesson and lab activity was developed at California University of Pennsylvaniapg. 1
Table of Contents
Lesson and Activity OverviewPage4
- Description of Lesson and ActivityPage4
- Grade LevelPage4
- Time Needed for Teaching Lesson and ActivityPage4
ObjectivesPage5
PA StandardsPage5
ITEEA StandardsPage5
Safety ConsiderationsPage6
Teaching StrategiesPage7
Set Up InformationPage7
Background InformationPage8
- Lecture ContentPage8
- PowerPoint Presentation – Notes PagesPage9
Equipment and Supplies ListPage10
STEM ActivityPage 11
- Background InformationPage 12
- Evaluation RubricPage13
- ProceduresPage14
- WorksheetsPage15
- ConclusionsPage16
- Supply Inventory ListPage17
- Post-TestPage18
Evaluation Information
- Evaluation OverviewPage19
- Quizzes with AnswersPage20
- Tests with AnswersPage21
References and ResourcesPage22
Lesson and Activity Overview
Description of Lesson and Activity
This lesson and activity focus on the application of engineering principles to the design of structures. It is….
Grade Level
This lesson and activity are appropriate to be taught at the middle school level. The content is aligned with the PA Standards for grades 6-9. The content and activity could be revised by removing the math applications to make it appropriate for the elementary school level. It could be altered by adding a section on structural analysis of tension and compression forces acting on the construction elements to make it appropriate for the high school level.
Time Needed for Teaching Lesson and Activity
Total time needed:Six classes of approximately 45 minutes each.
Time needed for lesson:Two classes of approximately 45 minutes each to introduce the lesson and provide the necessary background information.
One class of approximately 45 minutes to administer the test and summarize the lesson and activity.
Time needed for activity:Three classes of approximately 45 minutes each to introduce, administer and conclude the activity.
Objectives
Upon completion of this lab activity students should be able to:
- Demonstrate the connections between Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)
- Determine the amount stress exerted on a structural component by forces such as tension and compression.
- Predict if a structural component will be able to withstand specified loads or if the component will fail.
Pennsylvania Academic Standards for Science and Technology
3.1.12B Apply concepts of models as a method to predict and understand science and technology.
3.6.12A: Analyze biotechnologies that relate to propagating, growing, maintaining, adapting, treating, and converting.
3.7.12B: Evaluate appropriate instruments and apparatuses to accurately measure materials and processes.
International Technology and Engineering Education Association
Standards for Technological Literacy
Standard 3:Students will develop an understanding of the relationships among technologies and the connections between technology and other fields of study.
Standard 5:Students will develop an understanding of the effects of technology on the environment.
Standard 15:Students will develop an understanding of and be able to select and use agricultural and related biotechnologies.
Safety Considerations
The following guidelines are recommended while performing the activity related to this content.
- The instructor should perform the following safety checks before issuing any supplies or equipment to the students:
- Verify that each student has passed the safety tests for each piece of equipment they will be using for the activity.
- Inspect the safety guards for each piece of equipment they will be using for the activity.
- Verify that the emergency stop switch is function properly.
- Inspect tools for damage, dull blades or ….
- Inspect chemicals for hazardous substances by reviewing their MSDS.
- Remind the students of the importance of the following safety rules and monitor them during the activity:
- Safety glasses must be worn at all times when they are in the lab and the power is on.
- Long hair and loose clothing must be secured while in the lab and using equipment and machines.
Teaching Strategies
- Select appropriate examples or illustrations.
- Organize your points for clarity.
- Use multiple means to deliver instruction.
- Extend thinking through structured collaboration.
- Develop student’s capacity by modeling.
- Do a demonstration so students know what results they should get when testing the components.
Set up Information
- Make sufficient sample structural componentsfor demonstrations and student activity..
- Gather supplies and separate them into kits for each lab group.
Background Information
Lecture Content
Introduction
The lesson we will be starting today is on engineering principles as they relate to structural design. This is a very important topic because…..
History
As we look back at the design of structures throughout history we can find many examples which were successful and many which were failures. The reasons for the success or failure of these structures and be determined by analyzing determining if the designers followed proper design principles.Examples of failures include …..
Impacts
The proper application of engineering principles has positive and negative, expected and unexpected, current and future potential impacts on the environment, society, economy and other technologies. Among them are ….
Future Implications
While this topic is important today, it is also important that we are aware of its implications for the future. Failure to adhere to proper engineering principles could lead to severe consequences in terms of loss of life and economic hardship if a structure such as a dam …..
Summary/Conclusion
As we have learned through this lesson, the field of ….
PowerPoint Presentation – Notes Pages
Equipment and Supplies List
(1)Structural DesignText Book
Equipment
(1)Stress analyzer
(1)Digital scale
(2)Tape measures per team
Supplies(per team)
(1)Bottle of glue
(40)Popsicle (craft) sticks
(2)I-beams of each cross dimension
STEM Activity
Engineering Principles
Background Information
The activity we will be starting today is designed to reinforce the content we have covered in the class over the last two days on engineering principles as they relate to structural design. This activity will provide hands-on applications of…..
Evaluation Rubric
Category / Exceptional 10-8 / Average 7-5 / Below Average 4-0Evidence of performance in completing the activities / Complete and thorough information documenting the completion of a majority of the activities / Fairly complete documenting of most of the lab activities / Information is not complete and only some of the activities were completed
Evidence of time put into activities / Students spend all or most of the time allowed actually working on required material / Students spend half of the time allowed actually working on required material / Students spend little to no time working on any of the required material.
Evidence of following safety guidelines / Students follow safety guidelines / Students partially follow guidelines / Students do not follow guidelines
Cleanliness/Organization / Students clean up after completing the activities / Students partially clean up after the activities / Students do not clean up after the activities
Procedures
Once the teacher has completed reviewing the safety rules follow these procedures to aid you in successfully completing the activity:
- Put on your safety glasses and wear them until the teacher tells you it is safe to remove them.
- Send one representative from your lab group to pick up a set of materials needed for this activity.
- Fill out the group member names on the worksheet provided for this activity.
- Construct …..
- Measure …
Worksheet
Activity Title: / Engineering PrinciplesTeam Members
Complete the following information as you progress through the activity:
Stress Test Results / TensionMeasurement / Compression
Measurement
Test Sample #1
Test Sample #2
Test Sample #3
Based on the results of the test results recorded above, at what load would you expect a sample with a cross dimension of 8” x 16” to fail?
If you were designing a building that was six stories tall and constructed out of steel I-beams and a masonry veneer, what size should the foundation be if the soil consisted of shale?
Conclusion
Once the class has completed the lab activity:
- Tell the groups to complete the inventory sheets provided with their lab supplies.
- Instruct them to begin cleanup of the lab by returning all tools to their storage location and then cleaning up their workstations by …..
- Inspect the lab and collect the inventory sheets.
- Have the class return to the classroom area.
- Review the progress and results of the activity.
- Answer questions groups or individuals may have.
- Remind the class that there will be a test on the materials covered in the class and reinforced through the activity in the next class.
Supplies Inventory Sheet
Complete this inventory sheet once you have received your materials and again at the end of the lab activity.
Supplies(per team)
Item description / Quantity at start of lab activity / Quantity at end of lab activityBottle of glue
Popsicle (craft) sticks
I-beams of each cross dimension
Tape measures
Post Test / Engineering Principles
Student Name:
- True or False:Failure to adhere to engineering principles is the leading cause of structural failure in buildings.
- What affect cross dimensional size have on the strength of structural components?
- Is the temperature a factor which needs to be considered in designing structural components? And if so, explain why.
- What are some of the ways in which engineers reinforce and strengthen structural components:
Evaluation Overview
Student: ______Student: ______Overall Score ___/50_
Student: ______Student: ______
Upon completion of this lesson and activity you will be evaluated on the following criteria:
Criteria / Maximum Points / Points EarnedQuiz / 20
Lab Activity Worksheet / 40
Evidence of following safety guidelines / 5
Cleanliness/Organization / 5
Test / 30
Total / 100
Quiz (answer key)
- Is the temperature a factor which needs to be considered in designing structural components? And if so, explain why.
Yes.
As the temperature increases, the period of elongation is decreased by a factor of ….
As the temperature increases, the period of elongation is decreased by a factor of ….
- What are some of the ways in which engineers reinforce and strengthen structural components:
- By adding re-bar
- Increasing the cross dimensional size of …
- By …
Post Test (answer key)
- True or False:Failure to adhere to engineering principles is the leading cause of structural failure in buildings.
- What affect cross dimensional size have on the strength of structural components?
If the cross dimensional size is increased the strength will ….
References
The following are websites that will assist you and your students in gaining information and the successful completion of this unit.
Buell, P., & Girard, J. (2003). Chemistry rundamentals an environmental perspective. 2nd ed. Sudbury, Ma: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
Dickey, E. C. (2004). Retrieved Dec. 06, 2005, from Drinking Water: Hard Water
Web site:
Dissolved oxygen technical education. (1996). Retrieved Dec. 06, 2005, from DO Probes
Resources
Materials and supplies for this activity may be purchased from most local hardware stores and big box stores like K-Mart or Wal-Mart.
Plastic supplies and containers may be purchased from:
Consolidated Plastics Company, Inc.
8181 Darrow Road
Twinsburg, OH 44087
Phone: 1-800-362-1000
Instrumentation may be purchased from:
Carolina Biological Supply Company
2700 York Road
Burlington, NC27215-3398
Phone: 1-800-334-5551
This lesson and lab activity was developed at California University of Pennsylvaniapg. 1