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Teacher(s)
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Lesson Title
Grade Level
Gifted Standards
Big site. This definition sheet will be inserted into the interactive notebook
when completed.
Extend: Building Toothpick Bridge
Overview- students will produce a company name, logo, slogan, code of
conduct, name plate, and vault.
Closing:
Evaluate: Write a reflection about group progress daily.
Title of the Lesson Day 4: What is the strongest shape? Explain why.
Lesson Logistics/Materials: Bridge Building Groups will use items listed in
the pier building activity. Each groups will decide upon jobs assigned to each
group member. STEM journals will be used to document findings of pier
experimental activity.
Opening/Hook/Initial Focus: Extend: Piers-Which shape is strongest?
Students experiment with different shapes that could possibly be used for
piers. Test how many books each pier can hold.
Work Session: Explain- Watch video about the strongest shape, take notes
while viewing. Students will reflect upon their learning in their interactive
notebook. Bridge Building Group will discuss how this knowledge will affect
their plan for building. Begin working on a plan to build the strongest bridge,
using the least amount of materials. Review the prices of each item and the
planning involved in building their bridges. Blueprints will be discussed.
Closing:
Evaluate: Once complete, login to Padlet and answer the question of the day.
Students will view each others reflections on the Smartboard.
Title of the Lesson Day 5: What was the Roman contributions to
Bridges?
Lesson Logistics/Materials: Bridge Building Groups will learn more about
Roman influences on bridges. To Tell the Truth cards will be needed. The unit
book, BRIDGES! Amazing Structures to Design, Build and Test by Carol A.
Johmann and Elizabeth J. Rieth, will be used. Create a Cofferdam directions
will be discussed and materials presorted for the activity.
Opening/Hook/Initial Focus: Engage: Play- To Tell The Truth game to open
todays lesson. Three students represent three different bridge historians.
Students will vote using a poll on Edmodo to see who the real historian is
amongst the three.
Work Session:
Extend: Students will learn about Roman bridges through the activity Create
Create a Cofferdam
(See A Kaleidoscope Kids Book: BRIDGES! Amazing Structures to Design,
Build and Test by Carol A. Johmann and Elizabeth J. Rieth)
The Romans made three major contributions toward bridge building:
1. arch bridges The bridge used most often at this time was the beam
bridge, but problems occurred with the limit of height with the beam bridge.
They developed the arch bridge to aid water transportation. Discuss arch
bridges and the importance of the keystone.
2. pozzolana -- What would the Romans use for cement if trying to build a
pier or arch bridge in the water? The Romans discovered waterproof cement,
made from Vesuvius ash. It was a natural cement, discovered near the
Italian city of Pozzuoli.
3. cofferdam Even with waterproof cement, the Roman engineers had to
solve the problem How are we going to pour the concrete under water on
the bottom of a river to make pier foundations? The answer is you dont!
You get rid of the water instead. The Roman invention, the cofferdam, solved
the problem. A cofferdam is a round or square dam that keeps water out.
To create a cofferdam, put the students in groups of three and follow the step
by step directions on page 29 of the book listed above. Every gifted program
received a copy of this book several years ago.
As a reflection piece, you may want to use the Leonardo da Vinci quote upon
completion of this activity.