Bring on "Engineering Concepts Day"!!

As we finished our first nine weeks of school, students enjoyed our first "Engineering Concepts Day."  Students had the opportunity to build and create with many different manipulatives including blocks, Legos, and clay.  They worked together as engineering design teams to create a variety of projects.  They worked together in concept specific building, and they learned that some things are easier to design based upon the materials used.  They also learned how engineers need to be flexible when a project plan changes.  They all really enjoyed time given for them to "free build." 

Our Bible infusion for this lab was Matthew 7:24 - 27 -- "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts the into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.  But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."

The high point of the engineering lab was a group game of JENGA, the popular tower building game.  While playing, we talked about five basic engineering concepts that can be found in the game:
1.  Load
2.  Foundation
3.  Tension/Compression
4.  Rotational Force
5.  Earthquake Force

Wednesday's students enjoyed a "Goldfish Salad"Engineering Concepts Day" was a hit, and the students are already ready for the next one!