Science lesson on Structures

Monday's lesson on Structures was a HUGE hit with the students! They already love the hands-on, practical nature of the Unit. After discussing the different types of structures (man made structures - bridges, buildings, cupboards etc / natural structures - reefs, mountains etc. / animal structures - beavers dam, rabbit's burrow etc. / insect structures - spider webs, anthills, beehives etc.) we talked about the different forces that act on these structures (gravity, mass, vehicles, people etc)

Next, it was time to get the students in groups to work collaboratively to build a structure, 21 cm from the top of the desk, using only the following materials : 6 sheets of paper, 4 pencils, scotch tape. The students were told that the structures would then be given a strength test using books. The load of the books would act as a force on the paper structure therefore attention had to be made to the shape. Students were free to come up with whatever design they could create but they were also given the option to fold the paper into rectangular prisms, triangular prisms or cylindrical prisms.

Here are some pictures of the challenge!

Look at the structure in this picture but also take a look at the books at the forefront. My students independently went to the library to borrow books on structures (already!)