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.

Components

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