Research Experience for Teachers (2018-2019)
Building a Better Tunnel
|
||||||
Pre/Post Test: Pre/Post Test |
||||||
Keywords:
|
The Big Idea (including global relevance) Functions – using Functions to model tunnels: Tunnels are a vital part of global infrastructure and make travel between places easier. Minimizing the materials used and the space needed to be excavated reduces cost, building time, and damage to the Earth. |
Essential Questions
|
The Hook
|
The Challenge Students will design a tunnel and make a model (model material could be clay). Students will try to optimize the design by decreasing the area under the curve while maintaining safety. Refinement of the design will occur. Then students will make a model of their final design. Students will then present their models and make an argument that theirs is the best one. |
Guiding Questions
|
ACS (Real world applications; career connections; societal impact)
Tunnels are an important part of infrastructure but the student models will not use complex engineering that is necessary to build an actual model. The Challenge is supposed to be an introduction to some of the ideas of engineering.
Good transportation systems affect quality of life. While our Challenge will not be applied directly to local society, students will see how a well-built tunnel affects people’s lives.
Possible careers: civil engineer, geologist, structural engineer, mechanical engineer, construction management. Students will have a career research assignment and, if possible, a guest speaker.
Misconceptions
- Tunnels are easy to build because they are just holes in the ground.
- There is no reason to use function equations to model a tunnel.
- Only 1 function can be used.
- The cars only need to go through the center of the tunnel.
Unit Lessons and Activities
- Lesson 1: Exploring Tunnels and Writing Equations - Students will examine tunnels as part of infrastructure. They will look for common characteristics such as shape, size, length, and cost, and at various professions that work on the building of tunnels. Students will begin to connect tunnels to current content on functions.
- Activity 1: Introduction to Tunnels & Development of Essential Questions (2-3 days)
- Activity 2: Writing Function Equations in Context (2 days)
- Lesson 2: Connecting Tunnels to Functions - Students will work on the challenge of designing an efficient model of a tunnel.
- Activity 3: Modeling Real World Situations with Functions & Non-functions (2-3 days)
- Activity 4: Let’s Build a Tunnel (2-3 days)
- Evidence of CBL: Activity 1, Activity 4
- Evidence of EDP: Activity 1, Activity 4
Additional Resources
- Teach Engineering: https://www.teachengineering.org/activities/view/cub_rock_lesson04_activity1
- Building Big: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig/tunnel/index.html