Building bridges
Engineers are needed in a diverse range of disciplines and in projects across the globe. These resources allow students to explore projects outside the UK, to engage in challenges and activities that require creative thinking and practical skills, and to explore activities for those with particular learning needs. The activities range from Key Stage 3 to post-16.
- ALL
- Teacher guidance
- Video
- Activity sheet
Teacher guidance
Bridges and Structures
Working in groups of 3 or 4, students create structures from a single sheet of A4 paper, the tallest free-standing tower and the longest possible span between two end supports. They then have to decide upon the best design, giving the opportunity for them to discuss which criteria to use for awarding marks.
These activities from Cre8ate maths sets challenges which require pupils to be constructive, creative and think strategically about simple structures.
Students also have to test bridge structures for strength, which will require a systematic approach to investigate the best combination of arches and spans to use with three, four or five strips of card.
An Old Principle Saves Energy *suitable for home teaching*
This resource helps students studying physics at post-16, A2 level. In this activity students read a short passage, on the workings of a condensing boiler, then answer questions on latent heat and specific heat capacity.
The calculations should improve their comprehension and estimation skills, as well as their communication skills as they have to write a brief account for a sales brochure for a condensing gas boiler.
Students may first need to be taught the difference between heat and temperature and the difference in molecular separation in liquids and gases
Video
Humanitarian Engineer
Andrew is Chief Executive of the charity Engineering Without Borders UK. This Department for Education clip shows students how choosing to study science can help an individual to make a global difference.
Engineers Without Borders UK, work on problems associated with communities overseas that do not have access to facilities such as water, housing or electricity. The charity places engineering students in developing countries to help their communities thrive.
Activity sheet
Welding with Chocolate
Students join flat pieces of chocolate using 'welds' made by melting the chocolate using a bottle of hot water. In the example given, a box-section is compared with a flat plank of chocolate, to see which is the strongest when spanning a gap. The structures are readily related to the context of bridge-building.
A Bridge Too Many
A challenge based on a large model bridge that has been pre-constructed using prefabricated components, with weak pins joining the structure together. The challenge is to remove the bridge from over a railway without dropping anything on the tracks. A Bridge too Many, from the Centre for Science Education, is a set of teaching materials which offer a cross-curricular approach to learning about engineering.
Science Specials Needs Supplement
This book contains a range of science investigations that have been adapted for secondary-school students with particular learning needs.
The activities in these materials are:
Coastline protection
A demonstration of wave action and making and testing concrete samples.
Transporting chocolate
Looking at the colour that lorries used to transport chocolate are painted in relation of the heat they absorb.
Fragile parcel
Investigating materials used to make packaging for eggs or to make safety helmets.
Sleeping bags
Investigating different materials and the heat loss from a sleeping bag.
Water for industry
Investigating materials used for water pipes, filtering dirty water and using water for cooling.
Shipwreck
Investigating floating and sinking.
All activities contain extensive teacher guidance and student sheets.
