Assignments

Assignments
 * Day 1

Due:
 * Blog Post "My Strengths"
 * Take the Pre-Assessment || Day 2

Due:
 * Blog Post "What is the Function of a Bridge?"
 * Knex Skill Builder #1 Challenge 1
 * Blog Post "Building a Bridge Can't Be All That Difficult, Can It? Challenge 1 || Day 3

Due:
 * Knex Skill Builder #1 Challenge 2
 * Blog Post "Building a Bridge Can't Be All That Difficult, Can It? Challenge II" || Day 4

Due:
 * Blog Post "Bridges and Forces"
 * Blog post "Making Strong Structures" || Day 5 ||
 * Day 6 || Day 7 || Day 8

Due:
 * Rectangles/Squares Poster || Day 9 || Day 10

Due:
 * Triangles Poster ||
 * Day 11 || Day 12 || Day 13 || Day 14 || Day 15

Due:
 * Bridge Model
 * Case Study Presentation
 * Post-Assessment ||

Day 1 - Setting Up Your Blog
 * Register for a blog at [|Wordpress]. Click on the orange tab that says Sign Up Now.
 * Your username must be your student login (Ex: 14rogech) and your password must be your student id number (Ex: 445565).
 * Type in your student gmail NOT your own personal email.
 * Click the box that says you have read the terms of service. Make sure the circle Gimme a Blog! is selected, then click next.
 * You will have to check your gmail to activate the account. You may choose a different theme or leave the default theme.
 * Click New Post to start writing your first post.
 * 1st post titled "My Strengths" : What are your strengths when it comes to fixing broken things? When you are given a pile of blocks, what are the steps you take to building something with those blocks?
 * Pre-Assessment: Please take the time to complete the pre-assessment provided at this [|link]. You will not be graded, but will provide feedback for Mrs. Haygood.

Day 2 - Function of a Bridge
 * Please read Knex Reader #1.
 * Blog post titled "What is the Function of a Bridge?": Short beams are stronger than long beams of the same thickness, so why not make the bridge's beam thicker? What's the difference between dead, live, and working loads?
 * Please complete Knex Skill Builder #1 "Building a Bridge Can't Be All That Difficult, Can It?" Challenge I.
 * Blog post titled "Building a Bridge Can't Be All That Difficult, Can It? Challenge I": What ideas were rejected or accepted and why? What was the maximum gap your bridge spans without sagging or bending? How might you strengthen your bridge so that it can carry a 100g load at its mid-point?

Day 3 - Bridge Challenge
 * Please complete Knex Skill Builder #1 "Building a Bridge Can't Be All That Difficult, Can It?" Challenge II.
 * Blog post titled "Building a Bridge Can't Be All That Difficult, Can It? Challenge II": What ideas were rejected or accepted and why? What was the maximum gap your bridge spanned? What changes did you make to strengthen your design so that the beam remained rigid while carrying a load?

Day 4 - Forces
 * Please read Knex Reader #3 "Bridges and Forces".
 * Blog post titled "Bridges and Forces": What are the four stresses that act on a structure? Explain each type of stress.
 * Please read Knex Reader #5 "Making Strong Structures".
 * Blog post titled "Making Strong Structures": Is it possible to change the structural properties of materials? What happens to the three different shapes when forces are applied to them? What are the limitations of arches?

Day 5 - Shapes
 * Use the large white sheet of poster paper from your kit to make a poster titled: Rectangles and Squares.
 * Please complete Knex Skill Builder #2 "Investigating 2-D Shapes - Rectangles and Squares" Part 1. When the directions ask you to draw your designs, please draw on your poster.
 * Answer questions under Your Observations and Keeping a Record on the front side of your Rectangles/Squares poster.

Day 6 - Shapes
 * Please complete Knex Skill Builder #2 "Investigating 2-D Shapes - Rectangles and Squares" Parts 2 and 3. When the directions ask you to draw your designs, please draw on the back of your Rectangles/Squares poster.
 * Add to your poster: Your Observations and Keeping a Record for each part on the back side of your Rectangles/Squares poster. Turn this poster into Mrs. Haygood by day 8 for full credit.

Day 7 - Shapes
 * Use another large white sheet of poster paper from your kit to make a poster titled: Triangles
 * Please complete Knex Skill Builder #3 "Investigating 2-D Shapes - Triangles" Part 1. When the directions ask you to draw your designs, please draw on the front of your Triangles poster.
 * Answer questions under Your Observations and Keeping a Record on the front side of your Triangles poster.

Day 8 -- Shapes
 * Please complete Knex Skill Builder #3 "Investigating 2-D Shapes - Triangles" Part 2. When the directions ask you to draw your designs, please draw on the back of your Triangles poster.
 * Answer questions under Your Observations and Keeping a Record on the back side of your Triangles poster. Turn this poster into Mrs. Haygood by day 10 for full credit.

Day 9 - Types of Bridges
 * Please read Knex Reader #6 "Different Types of Bridges".
 * Blog post titled "Different Types of Bridges": Explain the construction of the following bridges and how forces are acted upon each - beam, truss, cantilevers, suspension, cable-stayed, arch.

Days 10 - 11 - Bridge Construction
 * Choose a bridge from the Knex kit to construct and begin building the bridge. Choose your bridge wisely, since you will be conducting a case study (research) on the bridge.

Days 12 - 14 - Case Study of Bridge Prepare a presentation that answers the following about the bridge you constructed: You may choose any type of media to make your presentation: PowerPoint, Prezi, Glogster, Weebly site, Google site, Voicethread, video (MovieMaker, PhotoStory, or iMovie). If you have another way you would like to present, please email Mrs. Haygood your idea and she will get back with you if the plan is acceptable or not.
 * The structural concepts used in the bridge design.
 * The types of forces acting on the bridge and how the design accommodated them.
 * The materials used in the construction of the bridge and why they were used in preference to other available materials.
 * Why it was built on its present site.
 * The challenges facing the engineers when creating the design for and bridge and how they were solved.
 * The need for the bridge and whom it serves.
 * How the building of the bridge impacted the surrounding environment (habitat destruction, traffic/noise, pollution).
 * If, in your opinion, the bridge is a successful structure and be prepared to justify your answer.

Day 15 - Present case study to Mrs. Haygood.
 * Make sure to also bring your bridge model.
 * Please complete the post-assessment at this [|link]. You will be graded on your answers, so please give your best thorough answers.