Technology & Engineering Resources
Engineering is Elementary: Designing Bridges
Javier Builds a Bridge: A Civil Engineering Story
Bridges are one type of strong and safe structure civil engineers design that integrate the natural science phenomena of balance and motion. In this unit, students explore what materials bridges are made of and why they are shaped differently. Students distinguish between beam, arch and suspension bridges and learn how counterbalance is fundamental to the bridge's design. In the culminating design challenge, students use paper, cardboard and string to design, construct and test their own bridges.
| Format | Book |
| Grades | K – 5 |
| Author | Museum of Science (Engineering is Elementary Team) |
| Source/Publisher | Museum of Science |
| ISBN | n/a |
| Shelving Location | E 620 |
| Location | n/a |
| Website | Balance and Forces & Civil Engineering |
Engineering is Elementary: Designing Bridges
+ View Detailed Standard Connections
Primary Connections:
ITEA Standards For Technological Literacy (2000)
(National)
- The Nature of Technology > Core concepts of technology (Grade: K – 2)
- Abilities for a Technological World > Apply the design process (Grade: 3 – 5)
- Abilities for a Technological World > Apply the design process (Grade: 3 – 5)
- Understanding Design > Problem solving (Grade: 3 – 5)
- Understanding Design > Engineering design (Grade: 3 – 5)
- Understanding Design > Engineering design (Grade: 3 – 5)
- Understanding Design > Attributes of design (Grade: 3 – 5)
- Understanding Design > Attributes of design (Grade: 3 – 5)
- The Nature of Technology > Relationships among technologies (Grade: 3 – 5)
- The Nature of Technology > Core concepts of technology (Grade: 3 – 5)
- Understanding Design > Attributes of design (Grade: K – 2)
- Understanding Design > Attributes of design (Grade: K – 2)
- Understanding Design > Engineering design (Grade: K – 2)
- Understanding Design > Problem solving (Grade: K – 2)
- Abilities for a Technological World > Apply the design process (Grade: K – 2)
- Abilities for a Technological World > Apply the design process (Grade: K – 2)
Secondary Connections:
ITEA Standards For Technological Literacy (2000)
(National)
- The Nature of Technology > Relationships among technologies (Grade: K – 2)
- Technology and Society > Role of society in the development and use of technology (Grade: K – 2)
- Understanding Design > Engineering design (Grade: K – 2)
- The Designed World > Construction technologies (Grade: K – 2)
- The Nature of Technology > Characteristics and scope of technology (Grade: 3 – 5)
- The Nature of Technology > Core concepts of technology (Grade: 3 – 5)
– View Concise Standard Connections
Primary Connections:
ITEA Standards For Technological Literacy (2000)
(National)
- The Nature of Technology > 02.E Core concepts of technology (Grade: K – 2)
People plan in order to get things done. - Abilities for a Technological World > 11.G Apply the design process (Grade: 3 – 5)
Improve the design solutions. - Abilities for a Technological World > 11.F Apply the design process (Grade: 3 – 5)
Test and evaluate the solutions for the design problem. - Understanding Design > 10.E Problem solving (Grade: 3 – 5)
The process of experimentation, which is common in science, can also be used to solve technological problems. - Understanding Design > 09.D Engineering design (Grade: 3 – 5)
When designing an object, it is important to be creative and consider all ideas. - Understanding Design > 09.C Engineering design (Grade: 3 – 5)
The engineering design process involves defining a problem, generating ideas, selecting a solution, testing the solution(s), making the item, evaluating it, and presenting the results. - Understanding Design > 08.D Attributes of design (Grade: 3 – 5)
Requirements for a design include such factors as the desired elements and features of a product or system or the limits that are placed on the design. - Understanding Design > 08.C Attributes of design (Grade: 3 – 5)
The design process is a purposeful method of planning practical solutions to problems. - The Nature of Technology > 03.C Relationships among technologies (Grade: 3 – 5)
Various relationships exist between technology and other fields of study. - The Nature of Technology > 02.H Core concepts of technology (Grade: 3 – 5)
Resources are the things needed to get a job done, such as tools and machines, materials, information, energy, people, capital, and time. - Understanding Design > 08.A Attributes of design (Grade: K – 2)
Everyone can design solutions to a problem. - Understanding Design > 08.B Attributes of design (Grade: K – 2)
Design is a creative process. - Understanding Design > 09.A Engineering design (Grade: K – 2)
The engineering design process includes identifying a problem, looking for ideas, developing solutions, and sharing solutions with others. - Understanding Design > 10.A Problem solving (Grade: K – 2)
Asking questions and making observations helps a person to figure out how things work. - Abilities for a Technological World > 11.B Apply the design process (Grade: K – 2)
Build or construct an object using the design process. - Abilities for a Technological World > 11.C Apply the design process (Grade: K – 2)
Investigate how things are made and how they can be improved.
Secondary Connections:
ITEA Standards For Technological Literacy (2000)
(National)
- The Nature of Technology > 03.A Relationships among technologies (Grade: K – 2)
The study of technology uses many of the same ideas and skills as other subjects. - Technology and Society > 06.A Role of society in the development and use of technology (Grade: K – 2)
Products are made to meet individual needs and wants. - Understanding Design > 09.B Engineering design (Grade: K – 2)
Expressing ideas to others verbally and through sketches and models is an important part of the design process. - The Designed World > 20.B Construction technologies (Grade: K – 2)
The type of structure determines how the parts are put together. - The Nature of Technology > 01.D Characteristics and scope of technology (Grade: 3 – 5)
Tools, materials, and skills are used to make things and carry out tasks. - The Nature of Technology > 02.K Core concepts of technology (Grade: 3 – 5)
Tools and machines extend human capabilities, such as holding, lifting, carrying, fastening, separating, and computing.
Engineering is Elementary: Designing Bridges
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Engineering is Elementary: Designing Bridges
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Engineering is Elementary: Designing Bridges
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