Learning with Legos

The students continue to work with Mrs. Greger's class on building with legos.  Right now most groups are learning about earthquakes and how engineers are designing buildings so they can withstand these terrible natural disasters.  Each group is trying to build the largest structure possible that can withstand a magnitude 8 earthquake using their lego earthquake shakers.  It's fun to watch all the problem solving and creativity taking place on this task.  I put a copy of the document the students are being asked to complete below.

What other factors make structures earthquake resistant?

1. Answer these questions by watching the videos that goes  along with it.  What cause earthquakes, and what are the hazards (problems) they create?  How do scientists rate the strength of an earthquake?  What factors can influence the resistance of buildings during an earthquake?

Plate Tectonics

Earthquakes and Plates

Earthquakes

Earthquake Resistant

Earthquake Resistant 2

2.  Start building.

3.  

Building	Magnitude

Build the highest possible structure to withstand an earthquake with a magnitude of 8.  Measure the height of your structure and list it here.  Explain how you built it and how you made it earthquake resistant.

Try one more time to build a building that is even stronger.  If successful, explain what you changed?

Finally, write a paragraph explaining what your group learned about earthquakes and designing buildings to withstand them.