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	Bridge Web Quest Intro Task Process Evaluation Conclusion Teacher Page Introduction Put on your hard helmets, and pull out your blue prints. As a group of young engineers you will build a popsicle-stick bridge that while suspended over two desks, can support the weight of your Geometry text book. The inner belt bridge in Cleveland is deteriorating and the city is in need of a designer for a new bridge. The new bridge will replace the existing 50 year old bridge that spans over the Cuyahoga River. You and your group of architects are to design a bridge for the city of Cleveland that will span across the Cuyahoga River, and sustain the weight of downtown traffic daily. Through your research you are to answer the following BIG questions during the presentation. The Essential Questions How are triangles a stabilizing force in architecture? (main question) How do definitions, theorems, and postulates of triangles relate to real world architecture and engineering What effect does rigidity have on a figure? Why do you think that a triangle cannot collapse or change shape unless one of the sides is changed? What would the world be like with out Geometry? You will explore how engineers use triangles to construct safe, strong, stable structures. You will research bridges and create a brochure. use models to explore ways to strengthen joints and test the strength of three dimensional models. The students will take on the roles of architects and engineers to build a structurally stable bridge out of popsicle sticks that can support the weight of their textbook. Students are to use their knowledge and understanding of bridges, as well as the importance of triangles to construct a strong stable bridge. The links below will assist you in your exploration! Check out this Video, and see what happens when the rules of mathematics are not followed Task This project focuses on the basic properties of triangles, and their significance in architecture specifically bridge design. Through this project your knowledge and understanding of triangles and their property of rigidity, will be investigated, observed, and modeled. You will also interpret mathematical information accurately, and communicate ideas, processes and solutions in a complete and easily understood idea. Listed in the next section are the steps you will need to complete throughout your investigation to assist you in the culminating task. In the culminating performance task, your group will design and build your own model of the bridge out of Popsicle sticks. The Popsicle stick bridge should sustain the weight of your geometry textbook. Using your knowledge and understanding of triangles and their properties your group will also create a presentation explaining how you arrived at your design for the new interstate bridge that will persuade the city of Cleveland to use your groups design. Process Step 1: There are more than half a million bridges in the United States, and you rely on them every day to cross obstacles like streams, valleys, and railroad tracks. But do you know how they work? Or why some bridges are curved while others are straight? Engineers must consider many things -- like the distance to be spanned and the types of materials available -- before determining the size, shape, and overall look of a bridge. Learn more about bridges and bridge design with the activity that follows. Research bridges so you can learn which bridge type will hold the most weight! Follow the link below to get started on you research. Bridge Scavenger Hunt Step 2: Once you have researched bridges you are to create a two page Tri-Fold brochure. Follow the link below for the complete directions and a rubric for you brochure. Bridge Brochure Step 3: Go to the following link Tri-Tri Project and complete the Find out by Modeling, Find out by Investigating, and Find out by Observing activities. Write your answers in your Bridge Journals. Journal Check out this video to see the significance of triangles in bridge design! Step 4: Culminating Task You have had the chance to explore how engineers use triangles to construct safe, strong, stable structures. Now it is your chance to be an architect/engineer and apply these ideas as you design and build your own bridge out of Popsicle sticks. In small groups your task is to design and build a structurally stable bridge made of Popsicle sticks that can hold the weight of your geometry textbook. Using your knowledge and understanding of triangles and their properties, your group will also create a multimedia presentation explaining how you arrived at your design. Your presentations will be a culmination of your Web Quests, brochures, Find out by Modeling, Find out by Investigating, and Find out by Observing activities journal. As the architects/engineers your group is to persuade the class (fellow engineers and architects) that your bridge is the strongest, and your group deserves the title of “Bridge Designers of the Year”. The links below will give you the specifics for your presentation and the rules for designing your popsicle stick bridge. Bridge Model Directions Presentation Evaluation Below is a link to the rubrics that will be used for the tasks mentioned above, including your culminating task. Rubrics Conclusion Congratulations! You have successfully designed your first bridge as a young architect. Through your research you were able to explore how engineers use triangles to construct safe, strong, stable structures. You will also interpreted mathematical information, communicated ideas, processes and solutions in a complete and easily understood ides in order to persuade your classmates. Now that you have experienced what it would be like to be an engineer I would like for you to reflect upon your experience. Final Reflection Teacher Page Intro Task Process Evaluation Conclusion Teacher Page	Assignments Syllabus ClassZone Projects Geometry Concepts Home

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