Building Trades / Construction
NEW!
Conduct Load Test Experiments
Using Simple Materials
Experimenting
with simple paperboard, students learn how engineers conduct load tests. They
start with a simple strip, add a strut support system to improve their results,
and finally design their own support. Worksheets for recording and charting
results included. Special Introductory
price: $4.95!
Cost-Effective Tower Building and Testing
Students learn structural engineering by building tower sides, then testing them with a teacher-made testing device—“Big Buster.” Note: This project appeared in the May 2008 issue of Tech Directions. It has been reformatted for easy classroom use.
Deck Construction
This project provides background on the structural elements of decks so commonly found outside today's homes, plus procedure for constructing scale model decks.
Designer Concrete
Background on composite materials and their use in construction, with an activity that has students experiment with different formulas for concrete, then strength test the results.
Designing Memorials and Monuments
Monuments and memorials inform, sooth and inspire us. As this scale-model hands-on project shows, they also can provide students with excellent experience with design.
Designing Playgrounds
Background on the many safety concerns involved in design and construction, plus a hands-on activity in which students design and construct a small-scale playground.
Doghouse Project Hones Construction Skills
Students build a doghouse from the ground up! From laying out components and performing slump tests to setting footers and laying shingles. Includes lots of supplemental material, including detailed procedures, materials cost and estimation charts, CAD drawings, glossary and more.
Energy-Efficient Home Design
Activities give students a practical understanding of the amount of energy the average home uses and wastes and teaches them about energy-efficient design. Includes handouts, vocabulary, student quiz, and grading rubric.
Fence Construction
The basics of planning for and building a fence, plus hands-on experience with a scale-model project.
Geodesic Dome
Students build a model geodesic dome with wooden dowels and PVC pipe.
Geodesic Dome Construction
Students explore math, science, and technology principles related to design and construction, then work in teams to build a geodesic dome. Eight student worksheets, plus a detailed assessment form are included.
Making a Laser Level
This project gives detailed procedure for constructing an inexpensive, very accurate level that incorporates a laser pointer.
Materials Science
Middle schoolers learn about the basic types of materials and their properties, how to measure and safely use basic tools, and how to design and construct a prototype and final project using these materials.
A New Twist to Bridge and Tower Building
Picking up where “Newspaper Structures” leaves off (see next item), this middle school project teaches principles of mathematics as they relate to structural stability and the building of model structures. Includes 8 pages of student handouts.
Newspaper Structures
Challenge—build a geodesic dome large enough for a student to sit inside. Capture students’ interest in this fascinating project that uses only newspaper, scissors, masking tape, and dowel rods. Students will have fun and learn about physics topics, such as strength-to-weight ratios, Euler’s Law of regular polyhedra, and much more.
Patio Stone Project
Background on the composition, history and uses of concrete, plus a hands-on activity in which students mix concrete and design and pour a patio stone for use at home.
Planned Community
You don’t have to look very far to find a planned community nowadays, they’re all around us. In this activity, students individually construct one piece of property, following strict covenants, that together will make up one large planned community. Mini project, only $2.95.
Scale Model House
Students learn to read a blueprint and practice measuring in architectural scale, then build their own cardboard scale-model house.
Simple Sextant
Students learn the history of navigation, then construct a functional sextant using a plastic protractor, drinking straw, fishing weight (sinker), string, and tape.
Structural Truss Elements and Forces
An introduction to primary, secondary and tertiary element relationships within structures gives students greater understanding of how constructed structures and elements distribute the forces and loads applied to them. A hands-on activity lets them apply--and test--what they've learned.
Structures and Bridges
After learning about the forces of tension, compression and shear, students build a simple beam-and-truss bridge to test for its resistance against these forces. Mini project, only $2.95.
Tensional Integrity
Tensional integrity, or tensegrity, is covered with explanations of torque, stress, and Hooke’s Law. Once students understand the principles, they can complete three activities building structures based on what they have learned.
Testing How Structure and Shape Affect Strength
Using only paper, tape and glue, students construct several structures and shapes to examine how different construction techniques affect an object’s strength. Then, using a teacher-built “smasher,” the objects are put to the test.
Toothpick Experiment: Investigating Construction Strength
Students experiment to determine the strength of various kinds of joints, then design and test the strength of bridges made from toothpicks.
Towers: A Smashing Activity
Students explore mathematical and technological problem solving and apply concepts of measurement, geometric modeling, geometric stability and perimeter in designing, building and testing (kaboom!) inexpensive wooden towers.
Subject Codes:
- A — Applied Academics
- B — Building Trades / Construction
- C— Communication
- D — Drafting / Design / CAD
- E — Electricity / Electronics / Computer Technology
- G — Grading / Assessment
- M — Manufacturing
- PE — Power / Energy
- P — Problem Solving / Pre-Engineering
- S — Great for Substitutes
- T — Transportation
- W — Woodworking
Back to the Main Projects Page
