Building to Resist Natural Forces

Take engineering design to the next level with this up-close look at natural disasters. Working to better understand the elements at play in the world around them, Build a Better World has learners collaborate on structural challenges as they model earthquake stability, hurricane winds, system integrity and so much more on their quest to understand how buildings are designed to resist outside forces. Culminating in a final world-building exercise, this camp is a STEAM lava flow at its finest.

Grades: 4-6
Students:Up to 30
Contact Hours:12+

Subject Targets:

Earth Science, Engineering Design

Recommended Settings:

• Summer Camps
• Before & After-School Programs
• Classrooms

Each Activity Includes:

• Schedule
• Topic Background Information & Vocabulary
• Opening & Closing Discussion
• Optional Extension Activities
• Materials List

Curriculum Topics:

1. The Engineering Design Process
2. Strong Shapes
3. Natural Disasters
4. Earthquakes
5. Landslides
6. Tsunamis
7. Flooding
8. Glitter-nado!
9. Ashfall Emergency
10. Winter Disasters
11. Typhoon Towers
12. Building a Better World

Reusability:

• Refill Kit Available. This product offers affordable refill kits. See the materials tab for details.

Product Orientation:

• Half-hour free webinar orientation for purchases of $500+
• One-hour free webinar orientation for purchases of $1000+
• Additional training available for purchase

Complete Program Includes:

Build a Better World comes with all the supplies needed for 30 students to complete 12 one-hour activities:

• Instructor Guide: 1
• Printed Student Pages: 5 sets
• Curriculum Digital Download: 1
• BrickLAB Bricks: 650+
• Brick Separator: 1
• Mesh Bag (for cleaning bricks): 1
• Large Storage Tub: 1
• Medium Storage Tubs: 5
• Azomite: 4 oz
• Bag of Cotton Balls: 1
• Bag of Lava Rock: 1
• Bag of Mini Marshmallows: 1
• Bag of Pea Gravel: 1
• Bean Bags: 5
• Binder Clips: 12
• Bottle of Dish Soap: 1
• Cardstock: 250 sheets
  
• Clipboards: 10
• Copy Paper: 500 Sheets
• Craft Sticks: 100
• Crayons (24 pack): 5
• Cups: 10
• Splash Block: 5
• Flour (2 lb): 1
• Glitter (0.1 oz): 6
• Index Cards (100 pack): 7
• Measuring Cups: 5
• Modeling Clay: 2 lb
• Paper Clips: 100
• #2 Pencils (12 pack): 3
• Pencil Sharpeners: 6
• Ping Pong Balls: 20
• Pipe Cleaners: 45
• Pitchers: 5
• Plastic Bottles: 10
• Plastic Containers: 9
• Plastic Spoons: 6
• Plastic Stirrers (1,000 pack): 1
• Rolls of Duct Tape: 5
• Rolls of Masking Tape: 5
• Rubberbands: ¼ lb bag
• Rulers: 5
• Scissors (5” for students): 10
• Scissors (adult size for instructor): 1
• Sponges: 10
• Spray Bottles: 5
• Straws (1,000 pack): 1
• String (450 ft ball): 1
• Tennis Balls: 5
• Tissue Paper: 24 sheets
• Toothpicks: 800
• Vortex Connector: 1

Note: Educators will need to purchase a bag of sand and a fan separately.

Curriculum Printed Copy Includes:

• Instructor Guide: 1
• Printed Student Pages: 5 sets

Curriculum Digital Download Includes:

Instructor Guide only, which includes master copies of all student pages.

Refill Kit Available:

Looking to use your Build a Better World Program with the next group of natural disaster specialists? This refill kit will get them up and running in no time!

• Azomite: 4 oz
• Bag of Cotton Balls: 1
• Bag of Mini Marshmallows: 1
• Binder Clips: 12
• Bottle of Dish Soap: 1
• Copy Paper: 500 Sheets
• Craft Sticks: 100
• Cups: 10
• Flour (2 lb): 1
• Glitter (0.1 oz): 6
• Index Cards (100 pack): 7
• Modeling Clay: 2 lb
• Paper Clips: 100
• Pipe Cleaners: 45
• Plastic Stirrers (1,000 pack): 1
• Rolls of Duct Tape: 5
• Rolls of Masking Tape: 5
• Rubberbands: ¼ lb bag
• Sponges: 10
• Straws (1,000 pack): 1
• String (450 ft ball): 1
• Tissue Paper: 24 sheets
• Toothpicks: 800

Habits of Mind:

16 thinking habits developed by Art Costa and Bena Kallick to empower students to succeed in a 21st-century learning environment.

• Thinking Flexibly
• Creating, Imagining, Innovating
• Thinking and Communicating with Clarity and Precision
• Listening with Understanding and Empathy
• Remaining Open to Continuous Learning
• Striving for Accuracy
• Applying Past Knowledge to New Situations
• Questioning and Posing Problems
• Thinking Interdependently
• Managing Impulsivity

21st Century Skills:

A set of widely-applicable abilities essential for success in the information age.

• Creativity and Innovation
• Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
• Communication and Collaboration
• Social and Cross-Cultural Skills
• Initiative and Self-Direction
• Flexibility and Adaptability
• Productivity and Accountability

© 2019 Battelle for Kids. battelleforkids.org. All Rights Reserved. Battelle for Kids was not involved in the production of this product and does not endorse it.

Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts:

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.4.1 Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.4.2 Determine the main idea of a text and explain how it is supported by key details; summarize the text.

© Copyright 2010. National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and Council of Chief State School Officers. All rights reserved.

Next Generation Science Standards:*

• 3-5-ETS1-1 Engineering Design
• 3-5-ETS1-2 Engineering Design
• 3-5-ETS1-3 Engineering Design
• 4-ESS3-2 Natural Hazards
• MS-ESS2-5 Weather and Climate

* Next Generation Science Standards and NGSS is a registered trademark of WestEd. Neither WestEd nor the lead states and partners that developed the Next Generation Science Standards were involved in the production of this product, and do not endorse it.

Tyler Downey

Tyler Downey joined PCS in the Spring of 2018, bringing a BA in Philosophy and MA in Education to his position as a STEM Education Specialist and Training Coordinator. Devoting himself to education for the last 20 years, Tyler has worked with students as an elementary classroom teacher, full-time gifted instructor, librarian and computer and information technology teacher, as well as leading students in hands-on science in summer camps and after-school club settings.