Form and Function

 The design process is outlined with suggested questions to guide engineering projects.

• Design Report Outline
• Stability
• Types of Structures
• Structures - with student samples of proctects.
• Forces on Frame Structures

A one or two period lesson plan where students investigate structural flaws in bridges.

• Explore structures and what it takes to build them - bridges, domes, scyscrapers, dams, and tunnels

• Achitecture clipart

• Suspension Bridge Construction - 4 pages with links -Students build a model of a suspension bridge and test the amount of weight it will support.
• Bridge Construction - 4 pages with links - Students build a model of a bridge and test the amount of weight it will support.
• Paper Structures - 3 pages with links - Students will demonstrate that material strength varies with shape and arrangement.

• Activity Index - use the navigation arrows at the top of the project pages in the links below

Watch videos, play games and build projects

• Projects
• Educator's Guide to Projects - pdf files
  • Heavy lifting - Build a cardboard crane and see how heavy a load it can lift.
  • Paper Table - Design and build a table out of newspaper tubes. Make it at least eight inches tall and strong enough to hold a heavy book.
  • High Rise - Build a tower that can support a tennis ball at least 18 inches off the ground while withstanding the wind from a fan.
  • Kinetic Sculpture -  Make a sculpture that is at least six inches tall and has at least two parts that move in the wind. 

 
General information, hands-on experiments, samples of each structural form and further links.

• Bridges - bridge basics, bridge challenge, wonders of the world databank, forces lab, Bridge webography (links)
• Domes - dome basics, bridge challenge, wonders of the world databank, forces lab, Bridge webography (links)
• Skyscrapers - skyscraper basics, bridge challenge, wonders of the world databank, forces lab, Bridge webography (links)
• Dams - dam basics, bridge challenge, wonders of the world databank, forces lab, Bridge webography (links)
• Tunnels - tunnel basics, bridge challenge, wonders of the world databank, forces lab, Bridge webography (links)
• Wonders of the World Database 

This site is a gateway to architecture around the world and across history.  You will find a thousand buildings and hundreds of leading architects with photographic images and architectural drawings, integrated maps and timelines, 3D building models, commentaries, bibliographies, web links, and more, for famous designers and structures of all kinds.

Print, graphics and animations explain natural and man-made structures and the forces on them.

A downloadable free application allows you to build solid, frame and shell structures with virtual building blocks.

Video clips that outline the manufacturing processes of a variety of items. Flashplayer plugin is required. Some career information is included.

 Print lesson plan in pdf file

• Build a bridge - online activity. Discover the strngth of the different bridge types: Arch, Beam, Suspension, Cable-stayed