• K'NEX BRIDGE DESIGN & TESTING
    Successful completion makes eligible for: All other engagements
    Prerequisites:

    Objectives
    ​1. Investigate structures and what shapes make them withstand force.
    2. Use software to design and test bridges.
    3. Apply software generated designs to K'nex construction.
    4. Test real-world forces on K'nex bridges.
    5. Use the design process to improve bridge design and re-test new design.
    6. Document learning process

    INTRODUCTION:  Using PowerPoint, create a title and introduction slide. These slides must have the authors first and last name. The objectives must be REWRITTEN IN YOUR OWN WORDS. The presentation must be aesthetically pleasing and grammatically correct.

    EXPLORE:  
    1. Open West Point Bridge-Building software
    2. Use one of the templates to practice designing and testing a bridge.
    3. Develop your own bridge design that holds as much weight as possible. How much did your bridge cost? How could you reduce the cost?
    4. Document your process with screen captures.

    RESEARCH: 
    1.  What is a truss bridge? Cable bridge? Arch bridge? Suspension bridge? Draw bridge? Provide pictures.
    2. What are the pros and cons of each of these bridge types?

    CRITICAL THINKING:  
    1.  What were the results of your bridge tests?  
    2. What parts of your design made the bridge strongest? What parts were weaker?  
    3. Discuss what modifications you would make to your next bridge design.
    4. How does bridge building relate to STEAM?

    EXTEND: 
    1. Take the design you created in the West Point Bridge Program
    2. You will duplicate the design using K’nex
    3.  You will grab a bucket and fill it with K’nex pieces. You are only allowed into the Studio Room once. So make sure you measure your needs ahead of time.
    4. You have a budget of $3 million. Each K’ Nex piece cost $9,500
    5. Test your bridge strength. To test your bridge, you will weigh the Home Depot bucket. You will record its weight. Then you will weigh a rock. Record this weight. Put the rock into bucket. Repeat this process until the bridge breaks.
    6. Rebuild your bridge and retest. Do this 3 total times.

    21ST CENTURY SKILLS: 
    1. Choose one of the four C’s and tell us the strengths AND challenges your group faced through this engagement  (Collaboration, Communication, Creativity, OR Critical Thinking).
    2. What have you learned about yourself or group using the C chosen?
    3. What advice, specific to THIS engagement would you give a group starting this engagement