Introduction
Calling All 5th Grade Engineers!
Welcom to the Landfill Design Challenge!
You already know that a landfill is used to contain waste and keep it from causing
damage to the environment, but what is the best design for a landfill?
The main challenge for engineers is to design landfills to keep the waste materials from being a heath hazard to
people and the environment and use the least amount of space possible.
You are going to use your engineering skills to design, build, and test your own landfill!
Are you up for the challenge?
Task
Your goal is to create a lanfill within your budget that can hold the most waste, prevent environmental contamination, and withstand weather damage.
You and your teammates with each have a role in the creation of your landfill:
Project Engineer
Design Engineer
Construction Engineer
Budget Office
What you will need:
-"Engineering Roles" sheet
-"Budget Worksheet"
-Plastic tub
-clay
-sand
-gravel
-15 cotton balls
Process
1. With your team, decide how much of each material you need. Budget Office will fill out the budget worksheet. Design Engineer will draw out your team's design and calcuate the volume of the plastic bin and compare this to the volumes of materials being used (1cup = 15 in3)
2. Construction Engineer will pick up materials at the suppy shop
3. Costruct the base liner system for your landfill. The goal is to keep water from getting out of the landfill. Remember to save save materials for your top cap!
4. Fill in the landfill with garbage
5. Contruct your top cap to keep rain out of the landfill
6. The teacher will test your landfill's performance
7. Document the performance of your landfill on the "Engineering Roles" sheet
Evaluation
Answer the following questions in your notebook:
1. Did your landfill keep the town safe? Why or why not?
2. What was the most effective part of your design?
3. What was the least effective part of your design?
4. How did the different materials perform in your landfill? (What worked well; what did not work well)
5. If you had the change to redesign your landfill, what would you do differently?
Conclusion
Well done, Engineers!
You are now expert landfill designers!
