Quake Shake

Design Challenge

Engineering

Students explore sustainability through making earthquake-proof buildings!

Concepts at a Glance

The students will be able to:

● Identify what makes a building earthquake-proof

● Identify why earthquake-proof buildings areimportant

● Understand seismic infrastructure’s contribution tosustainability

● They will use the engineering design cycle to think ofother ways to promote sustainability in theircommunity.

Curriculum Connections

6/7 ADST: Designs can be responsive to identified needs,complex tasks require different technologies and tools atdifferent stages, visual programming.

7 Science: Evidence of climate change over geological timeand the recent impacts of humans, local First Peoplesknowledge of climate change,

Materials

Recyclables (students can be responsiblefor collecting or bringing this in)

● Building Materials (hot glue guns, clay, etc.)

● Alternate Building Materials listed below.

● Other materials they need for theirbuilding

● Paper and writing utensils forbrainstorming

Activity Instructions

In pairs or groups, students have been hired as “structural engineers” to design an earthquake resistant building

Give each pair/group materials, whichever you decideto choose. You can also tell students that they’re onlyallowed to bring items from their / the class recycling bin (incentive for them to bring in materials, so youdon’t have to!)

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Set Building code requirements!

● Building must fit on base and attached

● At least __cm tall

● Each must support at least ___ without collapsing or weights falling off

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Earthquake testing:

● Shake the cardboard foundation for 10sec○ Shake, or rotate around a circle○ Try to be as uniform as possible between allgroups!

● Students are allowed 2 minutes to repair any damageto the building or make improvements before the nextearthquake testFind a winner by whatever means you prefer!

Worksheets

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Lesson Plan

Download Lesson Plan