CIENCIA Y TECNOLOGÍA: Tecnología
FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE: BUILDING RIGID STRUCTURES USING PAPER 2º ESO grade students have done a project to put into practice the theory about structures that was learned in the last classes of technology. The project consisted of creating a structure made out of 12 paper bars stuck together with tape which had to bear the weight of 2500 sheets of paper. The structure had to be at least 15 cm tall. From a general point of view, this activity has been very interesting because throughout the unit we have gone further putting the syllabus into practice. Designing these structures has made us think, has made us strive and take many things into account. All this work has been done during class time, so planning the work ahead was very important, each of us has sought a strategy. The structure had to have a perfect balance in order to support up to 12.5 kg. Several have been able to support for longer than expected (up to 25 kg). This activity has been fun to do too. We’ve learned a lot while it’s elaboration. The most important thing was the design of the structure. Even if you have the most resistant well done bars, the structure won’t be able to support all that weight without the correct design. It is true that this project was the practical part of the unit, but thanks to the syllabus and the teacher's explanations, we've been able to build the right structures under the right conditions, an example of this is, which you’ll see in the pictures is that most students have realized that applying triangles to the shape of the structure gives it stability and rigidity. Abril Vázquez, Camila Figuerola-Ferretti and Jimena Aguado, 2º ESO students
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