Grade 5: Structural Engineering Practice & Crush Towers!
Every year, through various in-class activities and challenges, Grade 5 students discover the fundamentals of structural engineering and design with Mr. Andy Dodge, Middle School science teacher. Using what they learn in class, students get to build wooden towers designed with enough load-bearing capacity to overcome the "Crushing Machine of Doom." Before receiving the materials to create their structures, the fifth graders were required to present a design ticket to Mr. Dodge that followed a few simple rules. Each tower had to be at least 8 inches tall, 4 inches wide at the base, include a 1-inch centerline, and incorporate no more than 18 feet, or 216 inches of wood. In addition, students could only use the wood and glue provided, and the towers had to be constructed in class.
Following these requirements, each fifth grader submitted a construction plan that included an illustration with the amount of wood required for one side of their tower, the total amount, and what would be left over. Using this information and some mathematical equations, they were able to calculate how much wood their tower would need.
Throughout the construction phase, students learned helpful tips from Mr. Dodge, such as:
- Measure twice, cut once.
- Build one side of the tower at a time.
- Dry-fit each piece of wood before gluing.
- Cut the wood a bit large at first and then sand it to the exact size.
- Take your time, and be patient!
After careful construction, the fifth graders brought their structures one by one to the "Crushing Machine of Doom" to witness their fate. In the spirit of Graland’s design thinking process, this step allowed the fifth graders to observe how their tower could be improved. Right away, students began increasing their structure’s weight-bearing capacity by combating tower compression with stronger columns, tension/pulling apart with stronger beams and joints, and torque/twisting apart with better diagonal bracing.
The fifth graders are already looking forward to their next design challenge, which involves building a structure strong enough to withstand a "tornado" in the wind tunnel! Excellent building and problem-solving, Grade 5 structural engineers!
Graland Country Day School
Graland Country Day School is a private school in Denver, Colorado, serving students in preschool, kindergarten, elementary, and middle school. Founded in Denver in 1927, Graland incorporates a rich, experiential learning approach in a traditional classroom setting, emphasizing the development of globally and socially conscious leaders who excel academically.
