Roosevelt School Students Build Bridges Between Fun and Learning
Mathematics, Science, problem-solving skills, principles of engineering, and imagination combined as fifth-grade students at CHSD170's Roosevelt's School participated in a classroom competition to build bridges supporting the (NGSS) Next Generation Science Standards of study.
The goal of the lesson was to build the most reliable bridge with a truss pattern - used to more evenly distribute weight, and/or beams - the most common material for bridges - while meeting the criteria and constraints for the use of the least-needed amount of construction material.
Bridges were judged based on their ability to withstand weight in comparison to their bulk.
Students used geometric principles and models to identify which shape would provide strength enough to support items of different weights found in the classroom including dry erase markers, erasers, and chapter books.
The students tested their knowledge and skills by constructing bridges of marshmallows and toothpicks while using the fewest numbers of each piece to support the weight of classroom items.
The students engaged and participated in the science lab while reading, writing, creating models and composing explanations identifying the results of their research. Student groups tested the bridges and presented their findings to classmates.
"Learning is a matter of building bridges in the abstract sense as we are all architects of our future history," said Louisa Flamini, Roosevelt's Fifth-grade Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies teacher.
"In a more concrete example, architecture shapes us and is built for its timelessness and to impact our daily lives."