Welcome Letter

Dear Educator,

We are pleased that you have chosen Explore-It-All Express to come and provide your students with an interactive science experience. Through this program students will develop a more sophisticated understanding and appreciation for the design and technology behind the engineering of bridges.

During the two hours they spend with the Bridges program, students will learn about three specific types of bridges; Beam/Truss, Arch and Suspension. Through hands-on experimentation and construction, they will become knowledgeable about the structural strengths and function of each type of bridge design.

This packet contains all of the important information you will need regarding our visit; our arrival and set-up times, specific duties for parent volunteers, as well as procedures and schedules your groups will follow during their visit. We encourage you to thoroughly familiarize yourself with all of the information enclosed ; it will ensure the best possible learning experience for your students.

Please be sure to view the enclosed video during the week prior to our arrival. We will ask that it be returned to our facilitator on the day of our visit.

We sincerely hope that you find “Building Bridges” a unique learning experience.

 

 

Program Overview

INTRODUCTION (20 minutes)

Our facilitator will meet with the entire class for a brief introduction and explanation about the Bridge activities the students will take part in for the next two hours. Included in the introduction will be two large group activities and discussion of the role of an Engineer as it relates to Bridge design and construction. The students will then be given instructions and sent to their (pre-assigned) Bridge Stations in Engineering Teams of (3). (Refer to our Building Bridges Floor Plan.)

BRIDGE STATIONS (50 minutes)

The teams will progress through the activities at their assigned Bridge Station. Each of the stations will cover a different type of bridge: Beam/Truss, Arch and Suspension. At each of these stations the student teams will engage in 5 bridge construction activities utilizing K'NEX, becoming experts in their particular type of bridge design. Through this hands-on approach, students will better understand concepts such as live and dead load, tension and compression, stability and strengthening techniques, as well as the suitability of their type of bridge in specific environmental situations. After 40 minutes, the student teams will relocate to the Share Area. A team from each of the three different Bridge Stations will gather and have 10 minutes to share specific characteristics unique to their bridge type with the other 2 teams.

CHALLENGE AREA (40 minutes)

The students will come to this Challenge Area knowledgeable about a variety of bridge designs and have an understanding of their advantages and limitations. They will form new teams of three. Each team consisting of an “expert” from each of the three bridge designs. After a brief explanation by the facilitator, this Engineering Team will be challenged to design and build a bridge best suited for a given set of criteria. At the conclusion of the construction time, each team will match their design with the actual picture and scenario of the bridge that was constructed. Before they are dismissed, we will ask each team to dismantle their structure and return their buttons to their teacher.

PRE-PROGRAM ONLINE ACTIVITY

Consider viewing our Bridge Basics Slide Show before or after the program.

Space Requirements

Click the photo or here for enlarged view of Building Bridges Floor Plan. Click on the Floor Plan to return to this page.

 

Procedures

Arrival & Set Up

Our facilitator will arrive at 8:15 a.m. They would like to meet with you and your first (6-9) parent volunteers in the office. At this time, information as to the closest and easiest location for unloading would be appreciated. With the help of your volunteers it will take approximately 1 hour to unload and set up. We plan to be ready for your students at 9:15.

 

Group Schedules (2 Hours per Class)

Please arrive at the assigned time

 

I Introduction: 9:15 - 9:35 Bridge Stations: 9:40 - 10:30 Challenge Area: 10:35 - 11:15	II Introduction: 10:10 - 10:30 Bridge Stations: 10:35 - 11:25 Challenge Area: 11:30 - 12:10
**III Introduction: 11:45 - 12:05 Bridge Stations: 12:10 - 1:00 Challenge Area: 1:05 - 1:45	**IV Introduction: 12:40 - 1:00 Bridge Stations: 1:05 - 1:55 Challenge Area: 2:00 - 2:40
**Students in Groups III & IV should eat before they arrive.

 

Parent Volunteers

SHIFT 1: 8:00am – 12:00pm: 6-9 parent volunteers for unloading, set up and chaperoning of student Groups I and II.

SHIFT 2: 11:30am – 3:15pm: 6-9 parent volunteers for chaperoning student Groups III and IV, breakdown and reloading of exhibit.

ROLE OF THE VOLUNTEER

SHIFT 1: Parents will arrive at 8 a.m. to meet with facilitator, unload materials and receive directions for set-up; approximately 1 hour. They will meet again with facilitator at 8:45 to receive directions and familiarize themselves with their assigned station area and activities. These chaperones will be asked to remain in their area and assist students from Groups I and II with these activities. They will then be asked to instruct the second shift of parents (who will arrive at 11:30) on their assigned station responsibilities. Total time: 4 hours.

SHIFT 2: Parents will be asked to arrive at 11:30 a.m. They will meet with parents of the first shift who will describe responsibilities for their assigned station and activities. Parents will then assist students in Groups III and IV with these activities. At the conclusion of the students' visit, the parents will help the facilitator with the breakdown and reloading of the exhibit. Total time: 4 hours.

BADGES
This experience has been designed using the Jigsaw method of instruction. In order for the students to move about in an organized fashion, badges will be provided indicating the sequence they will follow during their visit.

Prior to the day of our program, you should give consideration as to how you plan on grouping your students in teams of three. Contained in this packet is a set of name badges and instructions describing the method you should use for preparing them.

Please have the students arrive at the program in their assigned teams and wearing their badge.