Bridges

Introduction

There's no doubt sometime in your life you've seen a bridge, and it's almost as likely that you've traveled over one. If you've ever laid a plank or log down over a stream to keep from getting wet, you've even constructed a bridge. A bridge provides passage over some sort of obstacle: a river, a valley, a road, a set of railroad tracks, etc.

In this Web Quest activity, you will become Engineers. You will research types of bridges to gather an understanding of how each design works. After you select the correct bridge type, you will be challenged to design a bridge using paper straws and masking tape. You will also test your bridge to see if it can hold weight. Your success will be determined by how efficient your bridge is. Will your Engineering Firm have the most efficient design?

Task

You have just been offered a job as a construction engineer.
The city has hired you because they need your expertise to build a new bridge.

Your job is to find out information about different bridges. Once the information is collected, you will design and build a bridge that best suits the city's needs. Remember to draw a rough outline of your construction plans before you begin to design.

Process

Click on the website below and read about the four types of bridges. Write down 1 fact you learned about each type of bridge.

http://science.howstuffworks.com/engineering/civil/bridge3.htm

Play a bridge building game online and try out your new knowledge!

http://www.coolmath-games.com/0-build-the-bridge

Now it is time to design and sketch your bridge! Get the sheet of paper from the teacher to begin.
Once you have designed your bridge, you must get permission from the teacher to begin building.

Evaluation

Rubric

1

2

3

Score

Facts

Student wrote at least 1 fact.

Student wrote at least 2 facts.

Student wrote at least 1 fact about all four the bridges.

Model

Bridge was not accurate to one of the 4 bridges.

Bridge was pretty well planned out.

Bridge was planned out accurate.

'\