Creative Building Projects
   

 Assorted Applied Technology Projects   - Egyptian water clock, catapults, towers,bridges, boats, cars, ramps, burglar alarm, hoists, and lifts
                                          from Mr. Gray 

   
http://www.members.shaw.ca/applytech/at/design.htm

Bridges - PBS "Build A Bridge" - learn about different types of bridges - interactive -
             
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/tech/build-bridge-p1.html

     Building Big - Bridge Design and Large Structures - http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig/  
     Super Bridge - http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/teachers/activities/2416_bridge.html
     How Bridges Work - http://science.howstuffworks.com/engineering/civil/bridge.htm
     ABCD Bridge Design Tips - http://web.archive.org/web/20090106203613/http://abcdpittsburgh.org/kids/kids.htm
     Balsawood Bridge -
http://best.me.berkeley.edu/~aagogino/IU/mdrules/balsawood.html
    

     BridgeBuilding Using Toothpicks - https://classroom.synonym.com/tips-building-bridges-toothpicks-7474300.html
       YouTube video -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNdH5elPzFk
      
http://www.pisymphony.com/toothpick/toothpick1.htm
        http://www.worsleyschool.net/science/files/bridge/building.html
      
https://www.scienceprojectideas.org/toothpick-bridge.htm
        https://www.instructables.com/Toothpick-Bridge-Project/                             
       http://web.mnstate.edu/bridge/Bridge_Tips.htm
     Marshmallows and Toothpick Bridges - https://eisca.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/EIS_Engineering_Bridges_27MAR2020.pdf
     Bridge Construction -
http://www.swe.org/iac/LP/bridge_01b.html
     Suspension Bridge Construction - http://www.swe.org/iac/LP/bridge_01.html
                                          http://www.swe.org/iac/LP/bridge_02.html
     Background info -
http://www.swe.org/iac/LP/bridge_03.html

     Pasta Bridges and Tower -
      
http://jhu.edu/~virtlab/spaghetti-bridge/
        http://www.ehow.co.uk/how_4557074_build-spaghetti-bridge.html
        https://www.wikihow.com/Build-a-Spaghetti-Bridge
        https://www.teachengineering.org/activities/view/wpi_spag_act_joy
       
http://engineering.jhu.edu/ei/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2014/01/Spaghetti-Bridge-Construction-Hints.pdf
            https://www.wikihow.com/Build-a-Spaghetti-Bridge

             Straw Bridges -
               
https://www.teachengineering.org/activities/view/cub_brid_lesson01_activity2

                  http://www.msichicago.org/online-science/activities/activity-detail/activities/straw-bridges-1/
                 
Video https://nhpbs.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/phy03.sci.phys.mfe.zstrawbridge/triangles-designing-a-straw-bridge/
                  https://thestemlaboratory.com/straw-bridges/
                  http://clearinghouse.starnetlibraries.org/engineering/157-build-a-straw-bridge.html
                  https://www.modjeski.com/media/sk0jrwmp/straw-bridge-workbook.pdf

Roller Coasters - Internet interactive design a roller coaster - https://www.learner.org/series/interactive-amusement-park-physics/
   
               Straw Roller Coaster - https://www.learner.org/series/project-playbook-educator-edition/straw-roller-coaster/
             
 Building A Roller Coaster - https://www.teachengineering.org/activities/view/duk_rollercoaster_music_act               
               How Roller Coasters Work -
https://science.howstuffworks.com/engineering/structural/roller-coaster.htm
               Roller coaster applet -
https://www.funderstanding.com/educators/coaster/
               Design a Roller Coaster - https://www.wikihow.com/Design-a-Roller-Coaster-Model
               Build A Roller Coaster Online -
https://www.thinkfun.com/rollercoasterchallenges/create/
               Design a Roller Coaster -
https://www.educationworld.com/a_tsl/archives/05-1/lesson007.shtml
                                         https://www.msichicago.org/science-at-home/hands-on-science/roller-coaster/

Castles - Build a Medieval Castle - http://www.yourchildlearns.com/castle.htm
   
          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ERtZz7SifI
              https://www.easy-crafts-for-kids.com/build-a-cardboard-medieval-castle.html
              https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/members-area/kids/kids-castles/cardboard-castle/
              https://downloads.bbc.co.uk/history/handsonhistory/HOH_Castle_activities.pdf

          Castle - https://www.adventure-in-a-box.com/diy-make-a-castle-from-recyclable-materials/
          Paper Castle - https://lifestyle.howstuffworks.com/crafts/paper-crafts/paper-castles.htm
          Miniature paper castle -
https://www.instructables.com/id/Easy-paper-miniature-castle/
          Model castle -
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Model-Castle
          

          Simple Cardboard Box Castle - http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/Boxcastle.shtml
           Pintarest - https://www.pinterest.com/tedi2/castle-project-ideas/

Catapults -  Plans for catapults with varying levels of difficulty - http://icatapults.freeservers.com/plans.htm  
             Catapults - https://kids.discoveryplace.org/huntersville/stay-at-home-science/diy-catapult
                         https://kidsactivitiesblog.com/28871/catapult-for-kids-to-make/
                         https://carrotsareorange.com/how-to-make-a-catapult-with-kids/
                         https://www.playideas.com/12-catapult-crafts/
                         http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview.cgi?LPid=21632
                         https://kidsactivitiesblog.com/55055/15-easy-catapults-to-make/

             Popsicle Sticks -
https://www.mcstemacademy.org/stem-activities-build-a-catapult/
                                  https://gosciencegirls.com/catapult-stem-project/
                                  https://www.shelterness.com/3-easy-diy-popsicle-stick-catapults/

             Historical Catapults - https://sites.google.com/site/physicsofcatapults/home/history-of-catapults
             How Does a Catapult Work?

                       https://science.howstuffworks.com/transport/engines-equipment/question127.htm?srch_tag=mvrltmy4dfy2ns4ewvfgdck5j4l276sv              
               Dowel Rod Rubber Band Catapult - https://frugalfun4boys.com/how-to-build-a-catapult-out-of-dowel-rods-and-rubber-bands/
             Marshmallow/Grape Catapults - http://www.wikihow.com/Build-a-Basic-Catapult
                                             http://www.housingaforest.com/clothespin-catapults/
             Desktop Catapult -
http://thescienceexplorer.com/technology/how-build-desktop-catapult

Egg Drop - https://nhpbs.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/642d66bb-741a-4562-9088-022ba038d172/read-good-books-egg-drop-challenge-young-explorers/
             http://best.me.berkeley.edu/~aagogino/IU/mdrules/eggjunior.html
             http://www.amnh.org/rose/mars/eggdrop.html
             http://college.cengage.com/education/pbl/project/project3.html
             https://buggyandbuddy.com/stem-kids-egg-drop-project/
             https://sciencing.com/successful-egg-drop-ideas-8424463.html
             http://sciencespot.net/Media/clubnkegg.pdf
             
http://jm043.k12.sd.us/great_egg_drop.htm

Houses - History - https://quatr.us/architecture/houses-architecture-history.htm
                      https://localhistories.org/a-history-of-houses/
                      https://kids.kiddle.co/Architecture

          Japanese Houses -
https://web-japan.org/kidsweb/virtual/house/house01.html
          How to Build -
http://www.contractor.edu/buildhouselp/buildhouselp.html
          Types -
http://www.hsv.k12.al.us/schools/art/dixon/architecture.htm
                     https://better.com/content/how-to-choose-between-different-types-of-houses/
          Earthquake-Proof Homes -
https://www.bigrentz.com/blog/earthquake-proof-buildings
                   
https://csengineermag.com/5-keys-to-designing-earthquake-resistant-buildings/
                   
https://homeguides.sfgate.com/earthquake-proof-house-48278.html            
      
Paper Structures - http://www.swe.org/iac/LP/paperstruct_01.html
                    http://www.swe.org/iac/LP/paperstruct_02.html
                    http://www.nsta.org/publications/news/story.aspx?id=52799
                    http://pbskids.org/zoom/printables/activities/pdfs/newspapertower.pdf
                                       

           Bridges -
http://www.exploratorium.edu/structures/paperbridges.html

                     http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig/educator/act_paper_ei.html
                     http://scienceprojectideasforkids.com/2010/make-paper-bridges/
                     https://www.pbs.org/parents/crafts-and-experiments/build-and-test-paper-bridges
                     https://www.keslerscience.com/paper-bridge-science-project/
                     http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/paper-bridges/
                     http://npass2.edc.org/sites/npass2.edc.org/files/Paper%20Bridges%20Sample.pdf


           Various -
http://www.ss42.com/pt-buildings.html

Pulley Systems - https://inventorsoftomorrow.com/2016/09/26/pulleys-2/
                 
https://carrotsareorange.com/how-to-make-a-pulley/
                 
https://www.123homeschool4me.com/teach-your-child-to-engineer-their-own_21/
                 
https://mocomi.com/pulley/
                 
https://nhpbs.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/evscps.sci.phys.pulley/what-is-a-pulley/

Sail Cars - http://best.me.berkeley.edu/~aagogino/IU/mdrules/sailsenior.html
            Puff-Mobiles - https://nhpbs.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/phy03.sci.phys.mfe.zpuffm/designing-a-puff-mobile/
            http://www.lessonplanspage.com/ScienceMDPuffMobile-WindPower48.htm
            
http://www.scienceteacherprogram.org/genscience/Landau2006.html

                           https://static.nsta.org/connections/middleschool/201512TNTStudentGuide.pdf

Solar CollectorsBuild a Solar Collector - https://www.asme.org/getmedia/634FE60D-8DA6-4F13-9ED6-09A4D1AF8C82/Solar_Collector.aspx                     
                  Sun Jars - http://www.instructables.com/id/Home-made-Sun-Jar/
                  Cardboard and rubber tubing -
http://www.solarquest.com/schoolhouse/Task.asp?id=1071
                  Pizza Box solar oven - https://learning-center.homesciencetools.com/article/how-to-build-a-solar-oven-project/
 
                                        https://www.sciencebuddies.org/stem-activities/solar-oven
                                         https://www.fizzicseducation.com.au/150-science-experiments/heat-experiments/pizza-box-solar-oven-2/
                                        
https://www.homesciencetools.com/article/how-to-build-a-solar-oven-project/

                  Solar Dehydrator - http://www.trueactivist.com/7-diy-solar-dehydrators-you-can-make-at-home/
                  Solar Hot Dog Cooker - https://www.education.com/science-fair/article/solar-hot-dog-cooker/
                                         
https://www.instructables.com/Hot-Dog-Cooker-Solar-Oven/
                                          https://www.kidzworld.com/article/26943-science-project-solar-power-hot-dog-cooker/
                                          https://www.reachoutmichigan.org/funexperiments/agesubject/lessons/energy/solardogs.html

                  Solar Hot Box - http://www.reachoutmichigan.org/funexperiments/quick/eric/hotbox.html

                             Mini Solar Car - http://www.xof1.com/buildMiniSolarCar.php (requires small motor and solar cells)
                                   https://www.homesciencetools.com/article/solar-car/
                                   https://www.instructables.com/How-to-Make-Solar-Car-DIY-Mini-Car/

Toothpick Projects - https://www.pinterest.ca/zahraaobeid/toothpick-crafts/
                     https://lydiavportfolio.weebly.com/toothpick-tower.html
                     https://www.instructables.com/How-to-Make-a-Stable-Toothpick-Structure/
                     https://www.sasksciencecentre.com/real-science-real-fun/toothpick-towers
                     https://carnegiestemgirls.org/2017/08/23/toothpick-tower/
                     http://kidshaus.typepad.com/kidshaus/2008/03/project-toothpi.html
                     http://www.scienceproject.com/projects/intro/intermediate/IP017.asp
                    
http://danbecker.info/other/ToothpickTreb/ToothpickTreb.html
    

Water Craft -  Buoyancy - https://www.juliantrubin.com/encyclopedia/physics/buoyancy.html
                https://curiodyssey.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Science-Experiment-Buoyancy-Boats.pdf
                https://www.education.com/science-fair/article/archimedes-principle-floats-boat/
                https://education.seattlepi.com/boat-flotation-experiments-5thgraders-5412.html
                https://create.ucsd.edu/stem-initiative/cssi-outreach-lessons-and-handouts/Bouyancy
                  
                https://reekoscience.com/science-experiments/floatation/homemade-pen-cap-sinker-experiment
                   

   Nature Boats - https://mothernatured.com/nature-play/nature-boats-for-kids/

                                  https://www.howweelearn.com/stem-challenge-nature-boats/
                   https://www.pbs.org/parents/crafts-and-experiments/craft-a-nature-sailboat

Wind Powered Machines - https://www.pinterest.com/pin/412994228300088860/
                          https://www.teachengineering.org/activities/view/cub_energy2_lesson07_activity2
                          http://www.housingaforest.com/wind-powered-cars/
                          http://www.smm.org/sln/vollis/trythese/trythese.html
                          https://pbskids.org/designsquad/pdf/parentseducators/wind-power-station-english.pdf
                          https://www.sciencebuddies.org/stem-activities/wind-powered-car


Lesson Plans for Teachers:

Amusement Parks and Playground Physics - https://www.learner.org/wp-content/interactive/parkphysics/
              https://www.bricks4kidz.com/blog/playgrounds-offer-the-perfect-setting-for-first-physics-lessons/
              https://www.bemidjistate.edu/academics/departments/science/k12-science-units/Amusement-park-physics-NASA-middle-school

So You Want to Build A Roller Coaster Webquest - http://webinstituteforteachers.org/~nhijaz/webquest/teacherguide.htm
Roller Coaster Webquest - http://www.glencoe.com/sec/science/webquest/content/rollercoast.shtml
Roller Coaster Physics - http://www.pen.k12.va.us/Pav/Science/Physics/book/home.html


BBC DIY Make Your Catapult - http://www.open.edu/openlearn/science-maths-technology/science/physics-and-astronomy/physics/diy-science-catapult

Egg Drop Competition Rules from MESA Day - http://mesa.ucop.edu/mesa_day/EggXpress_MS_0607.pdf
   Another Egg Drop Contest - http://web.archive.org/web/20041011105653/http://staff.esuhsd.org/~dimasd/ap_physics/egg.html   

Solar Heating Vocabulary and Lessons
  https://www.solardecathlon.gov/education-resources.html

  Solar Energy and You

Engineering Activities - https://stemeducationguide.com/middle-school-stem-activities/
                        https://leftbraincraftbrain.com/engineering-projects-for-kids/
                        https://www.sciencebuddies.org/stem-activities/subjects/middle-school
                        https://www.teachengineering.org/curriculum/browse
                        https://www.learnrobotics.org/blog/engineering-activities-middle-school/
                        https://www.teachingexpertise.com/classroom-ideas/8th-grade-engineering-projects/

Science at Home - https://eisca.org/teaching-science-at-home/


                       

Back to Mrs. Mitchell's Virtual School

This page was developed by Kathi Mitchell  
and was last updated April 30, 2023

 

Blue House from http://www.huroncohealth.com/environmental.htm
Castle from http://www.clipsahoy.com/