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Recommended grade level: 5-8.
Structures contains 5 model-building activities. These activities introduce students to the basic concepts of force, tension, compression, and equilibrium of forces underlying structures they see in their everyday environment--for example, houses, apartment buildings, bridges, and television towers. Using simple, inexpensive materials such as plastic drinking straws, students build a model house and test its strength. In another activity, they investigate how a single column of straws responds to the force of a cup of nails. They also build and test a model bridge, build and test a model tower, and assemble and use a testing apparatus to compare the strength of several different kinds of truss designs. Students must solve a variety of problems in order to keep their drinking-straw models rigid and strong. The overall concept that connects all the investigations is that of the truss as a basic structural system. In the course of these activities, students also have opportunities to practice proportional reasoning and graphical representation.

The guide includes directions for the assembly and use of equipment and materials, suggestions for ways of introducing and leading the activities, ideas for follow-up discussions, and embedded assessments.

Prices: Teacher's guide (ISBN 0-938587-35-8), $11.50. Complete kit, $225.00.
Publisher/supplier: Cuisenaire/Dale Seymour Publications.
Materials: Available locally, or in kit.

Use these listings to find related entries.

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Bridges,

Physical Sciences: The Exploratorium Guide to Scale and Structure: Activities for the Elementary Classroom,
Compression,

Physical Sciences: Structures, ~ The Exploratorium Guide to Scale and Structure: Activities for the Elementary Classroom,

Earth Sciences: Janice VanCleave's Earthquakes: Mind-Boggling Experiments You Can Turn into Science Fair Projects.
Forces,

Physical Sciences: Exploring Physical Science, ~ Glencoe Physical Science, ~ Motion, Forces, and Energy, ~ Forces and Machines, ~ Newton's Toy Box, ~ Simple Machines, ~ Brick Layers: Creative Engineering with LEGO Constructions, ~ LEGO Technic I Activity Center, ~ Machine Shop, ~ Methods of Motion: An Introduction to Mechanics, Book One, ~ Motion, ~ Personal Science Laboratory Motion Experiments, ~ Physical Science Activities for Elementary and Middle School, ~ Simple and Motorized Machines Activity Pack, Targeting Students' Science Misconceptions: Physical Science Concepts Using the Conceptual Change Model, ~ Thrill Ride!,

Multi & Applied Sciences: Integrated Science: Book Two, ~ Middle Grades Science: A Problem-Solving Approach, Seventh Grade, ~ Prime Science: Level C, ~ Science Interactions: Course 2, ~ SciencePlus Technology and Society: Level Red, ~ SciencePlus Technology and Society: Level Blue, ~ A World in Motion II: The Design Experience, Challenge 2, ~ Everyday Science: Real-Life Activities.
Models,

Physical Sciences: Glencoe Physical Science, ~ Matter: Building Block of the Universe, ~ Chemical Interactions, ~ Experimenting with Model Rockets, ~ Inventor's Lab, ~ Newton's Toy Box, ~ Experiments with Balloons, ~ Experiments with Motion, ~ LEGO Technic I Activity Center, ~ Machines, ~ Science Experiments: Chemistry and Physics, ~ Simple and Motorized Machines Activity Pack, ~ Soap Films and Bubbles,

Life Sciences: Glencoe Life Science, ~ Heredity: The Code of Life, ~ DNA--From Genes to Proteins, ~ Food, Energy, and Growth, ~ From Genes to Jeans: An Activity-Based Unit on Genetic Engineering and Agriculture, ~ The Human Body: How Can I Maintain and Care for Myself?, ~ An Introduction to Biotechnology: Book 2, ~ Life Changes through Time, ~ You and Your Body, ~ Zebra Mussel Mania, ~ The Molecular Model of DNA and Its Replication Kit, ~ Order and Diversity in the Living World: Teaching Taxonomy and Systematics in Schools,

Environmental Sciences: Plastics in Our Lives, ~ Water: Can We Keep It Fit for Life?, ~ Environmental Issues: Intermediate, ~ Environmental Resource Guide: Nonpoint Source Pollution Prevention, ~ Global Awareness for Students (GAS): Studies in Climate, ~ H₂O Below: An Activity Guide for Groundwater Study, ~ STV: Water,

Earth Sciences: Project STAR: The Universe in Your Hands, ~ Asteroid!, ~ Earth, Moon, and Stars, ~ Earth Processes, ~ Earthquake!, ~ Earthquakes, ~ The Moons of Jupiter, ~ Project Earth Science: Geology, ~ River Cutters, ~ Stories in Stone, ~ The Universe: Exploring Stars, Constellations, and Galaxies, ~ Earthquakes: A Teacher's Package for K-6, ~ Earth Science Investigations, ~ Earthy Things, ~ Hands-On Geology: K-12 Activities and Resources, ~ Janice VanCleave's Earthquakes: Mind-Boggling Experiments You Can Turn into Science Fair Projects, ~ On the Rocks: Earth Science Activities for Grades 1-8, ~ Project SPICA: A Teacher Resource to Enhance Astronomy Education, ~ A Sedimentary Geologists' Guide to Helping K-12 Earth Science Teachers: Hints, Ideas, Activities and Resources,

Multi & Applied Sciences: Models and Designs, ~ Prime Science: Level C, ~ Energy Transformations: Fourth Module in Bio-Related Technologies Unit, ~ Hot Water and Warm Homes from Sunlight, ~ How Telecommunication Works: How People Use Energy to Communicate, ~ If Shipwrecks Could Talk, ~ JASON IV Curriculum: Baja California Sur, ~ Life: Here? There? Elsewhere? The Search for Life on Venus and Mars, ~ Packaging, ~ A Sunken Ship, ~ The Teaching Tank Discovery Book, ~ The Teaching Tank Discovery Book, ~ Technology Science Mathematics Connection Activities, ~ Transformations: Science, Technology and Society.
Structures,

Physical Sciences: Structures, ~ Brick Layers: Creative Engineering with LEGO Constructions, ~ The Exploratorium Guide to Scale and Structure: Activities for the Elementary Classroom, ~ LEGO Technic I Activity Center, ~ Simple and Motorized Machines Activity Pack,

Earth Sciences: Earthquakes, ~ Measuring Earthquakes,

Multi & Applied Sciences: SciencePlus Technology and Society: Level Red, ~ The Art and Science Connection: Hands-on Activities for Intermediate Students, ~ Science and Technology by Design: 3.
Tension,

Physical Sciences: Structures, ~ The Exploratorium Guide to Scale and Structure: Activities for the Elementary Classroom,
Towers,

Physical Sciences: The Exploratorium Guide to Scale and Structure: Activities for the Elementary Classroom,

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[Ch 1: Physical Science] [Ch 2: Life Science] [Ch 3: Environmental Science] [Ch 4: Earth and Space Science] [Ch 5: Multi and Applied Science] [Ch 6: Sources of Info on Software] [Ch 7: Books on Teaching Science] [Ch 8: Science Book Lists] [Ch 9: Periodicals] [Ch 10: Museums] [Ch 11: Professional Associations]	[Title Index] [Index of Authors, etc.] [Subject Index] [Topics Index] [Content Standards Index] [Grade Level Index] [Scientific Areas Index] [Ancillary Resources Index] [OPENING PAGE]
	Copyright 1998 National Academy of Sciences National Academy Press

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