What is the strongest shape?  How did the Romans build structures 2000 years ago that are still being used today?  Can you really stand on eggs?  Can you build a bridge out of balloons?  What is a truss?  We use a ten foot truss bridge, a suspension bridge, a large block arch, slides, juggling, balloon tying, blues harmonica, and other props to demonstrate basic building principles.

Now You're Building

How long of a structure can you build?  How can you make it more stable?  Using beams and connectors students try their hands at building their own structures.  They learn to build trusses, towers, suspension bridges and arches.  They then try to solve a construction problem with a structure of their own design.

Can you design a truss that will hold many times its own weight?  How efficient is your design?  Can balsa wood really hold that much weight?  In this hands on workshop the class uses what they learned about structures to design and build their own balsa wood truss.  They then test the structures by adding weights until they collapse.  The students then apply grade appropriate math skills to evaluate their design.