tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273924113368098302.post4912682424128700041..comments2024-03-18T07:08:22.479-05:00Comments on Relentlessly Fun, Deceptively Educational: Engineering a BridgeDeceptively Educationalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08934909120289454457noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273924113368098302.post-70786427060155596762012-11-14T17:49:57.839-06:002012-11-14T17:49:57.839-06:00At some universities this is the first group proje...At some universities this is the first group project you do as an engineer... We did this exact thing for an Intro to Mechanical Engineering class except the goal was to support a certain amount of weight. Stephen Averynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273924113368098302.post-3253478183964439812012-07-20T12:06:47.581-05:002012-07-20T12:06:47.581-05:00THANK YOU!!! So glad you see the importance of en...THANK YOU!!! So glad you see the importance of engineering with elementary kids. I do engineering projects 1-2x/week with my first graders. Ask any of them--boy, girl, "smart" or struggling learner---and they will say best part about school is engineering. They cheer when it's time! There are so many things kids learn and they don't' even realize it--- cooperation, respect, problem solving (a major life skill), how to make a plan and carry it out, how to handle failure (which is not a bad word, but something we all need to handle and learn from), listening and not just hearing, appreciation of other points of view...I could go on and on. The social skills they kids learn help create an overall feeling of safety, willingness to try without fear of being embarrassed or "wrong", and happiness in my classroom. It's so easy to take what I already have to teach and give it an engineering twist, and we all know that active learners learn more. Sorry for the long post... I taught a grad level course on Children's Engineering to in-service teachers...it's my passion! Here's a great website with info and LOTS of engineering deign briefs---<br /><br />http://childrensengineering.com/everydaydesignbriefs.htm<br /><br />From the website childrensengineering.com<br />Enjoy!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273924113368098302.post-47540083382639340572012-05-25T14:47:40.871-05:002012-05-25T14:47:40.871-05:00What a great activity and I love that you put a bo...What a great activity and I love that you put a book with it.jmommymomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18038986572848163326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273924113368098302.post-86300137772188345732012-05-24T07:34:23.537-05:002012-05-24T07:34:23.537-05:00Oh, I love the paper clip and straw idea! I tried ...Oh, I love the paper clip and straw idea! I tried doing toothpicks ones with my high school geometry class once but it was a nightmare to get them to stay. Of course we were doing it as a competition to see which team could make the one that could withstand the most weight. Thank you for sharing them at Sharing Saturday!! I hope you are having a wonderful week!!Carriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13378815791158272858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273924113368098302.post-44117770484313630242012-05-22T12:43:02.111-05:002012-05-22T12:43:02.111-05:00How fun! I love how you guys worked together to co...How fun! I love how you guys worked together to come up with a workable solution. Great job!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16903781225257468637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273924113368098302.post-33883126418218084472012-05-21T08:26:04.033-05:002012-05-21T08:26:04.033-05:00So cool ! My boys would love this ! We have expl...So cool ! My boys would love this ! We have explored a bit with marshmallows and toothpicks - http://discoverexplorelearn.com/2011/10/toothpick-architecture-2/<br />My 7 year old is fascinated by bridges, so I know he would be completely engaged in this activity. Thanks for sharing !Sharon@DiscoverExploreLearnhttp://www.discoverexplorelearn.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273924113368098302.post-47703351668659443342012-05-20T23:47:58.712-05:002012-05-20T23:47:58.712-05:00This is such a great activity for children. I rem...This is such a great activity for children. I remember spending one year with my son in SECME as he competed in a bridge building competition with his friends, they had so much fun and learned to so much. Thanks for sharing on our Afterschool Blog Hop!Kim Vijhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07927345724374380430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273924113368098302.post-60184921844194797752012-05-20T17:07:38.569-05:002012-05-20T17:07:38.569-05:00That a brilliantly executed bridge. The paperclip ...That a brilliantly executed bridge. The paperclip fastenings are genius! <br /><br /><br />Thanks for sharing on Science Sparks.<br /><br />Kerry :)Science Sparkshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13191622181194453966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273924113368098302.post-66934189550039070892012-05-20T15:17:38.861-05:002012-05-20T15:17:38.861-05:00This is VERY cool! and really, a bridge that holds...This is VERY cool! and really, a bridge that holds water? Amazing!!!MaryAnnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13253503049272771754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273924113368098302.post-59654906292300397932012-05-19T03:38:26.514-05:002012-05-19T03:38:26.514-05:00What a brilliant idea and made with materials I ha...What a brilliant idea and made with materials I have around the houseAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273924113368098302.post-91963692043791173672012-05-18T22:33:57.127-05:002012-05-18T22:33:57.127-05:00What a great idea to use paper clips with the stra...What a great idea to use paper clips with the straws. We've only ever used sticky tape. Will definitely try this with my sons. Thanks for sharing.Susan Syddallhttp://www.storiesandchildren.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273924113368098302.post-58245478627643032952012-05-17T19:54:31.940-05:002012-05-17T19:54:31.940-05:00That looks so cool! My kids would love it!That looks so cool! My kids would love it!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18012849586904985898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273924113368098302.post-41917207663822894322012-05-17T19:20:43.417-05:002012-05-17T19:20:43.417-05:00Very cool. Triangles are way strong and way cool!...Very cool. Triangles are way strong and way cool! I had one thought. Since January, my 1st grader and I have played around with building platonic solids(cube, tetrahedron, etc.). We've finally figured out that a full-length straw is not that sturdy and that a shorter straw makes a more solid/secure structure. We've had a lot of success recently with the ratio of 3" straw to 1/3 of a pipe cleaner (half in one straw, the other half in a connecting straw). That might help with the bending issue. :-)Malkehttp://www.mathinyourfeet.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273924113368098302.post-77678487487152354782012-05-17T14:58:19.965-05:002012-05-17T14:58:19.965-05:00Yep. I do this in my classroom and cut the ends of...Yep. I do this in my classroom and cut the ends off that have the bending element. Paper clips are good to use for joing, and actually pipe cleaners cut down to size are good, too. One lesson to learn is the MORE you fool with the paper clips (inserting/removing/etc.), the weaker the structure becomes. I love building w/straws!!Vickihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02262732932028496290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273924113368098302.post-46471710274649995932012-05-17T13:23:56.617-05:002012-05-17T13:23:56.617-05:00Since your blog is one of my favorites I have awar...Since your blog is one of my favorites I have awarded you with the "One Lovely Blog" award! <br /><br />Head on over to my page to check it out: <a href="http://thirdgradeisahoot.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">ThirdGradeIsAHoot</a>Heather Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16244751865671745214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273924113368098302.post-77394293538325088272012-05-17T08:50:21.643-05:002012-05-17T08:50:21.643-05:00You know, I've been trying to think of how to ...You know, I've been trying to think of how to do projects like that, but hadn't really thought about paper clips for some reason.Ticiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17970101432834731044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273924113368098302.post-84069612586780334102012-05-16T19:37:46.541-05:002012-05-16T19:37:46.541-05:00This is awesome! I love the idea of using the pape...This is awesome! I love the idea of using the paperclips in the straws! I see a ton of straws and paperclips in our very near future! My kids are gonna love this project!<br /><br />I'd like to invite you to link this (and any other projects/recipes you'd like) up on my first link party.<br />Your readers are welcome, as well!<br />http://earning-my-cape.blogspot.com/2012/05/super-link-party-1.html<br />I hope to see you all there! :-)<br />~Susie~Earning-My-Capehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05619658633285029097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273924113368098302.post-1039671428237717282012-05-16T08:39:42.145-05:002012-05-16T08:39:42.145-05:00We did some engineering projects similar to this w...We did some engineering projects similar to this with my then 3-year old! Young kids love this sort of thing.Phyllishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09217282962233011656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273924113368098302.post-50867555753569709832012-05-16T08:36:11.492-05:002012-05-16T08:36:11.492-05:00Good idea, Wonder Mom! I also thought it'd be ...Good idea, Wonder Mom! I also thought it'd be fun to use the straws and paperclips for making various polygons.Deceptively Educationalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08934909120289454457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8273924113368098302.post-33814437434083578462012-05-16T08:32:59.053-05:002012-05-16T08:32:59.053-05:00Oooo- this would be a great project for my kiddos ...Oooo- this would be a great project for my kiddos to try with their Wikki Sticks! Thank you for the inspiration!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00081982605206256145noreply@blogger.com