Lauren Steel, Principal Technician: Structures & Engineering Design for Communities with Dumfries and Galloway Council joined us today to deliver a P4-7 engineering workshop, in collaboration with the Institute of Civil Engineers (ICE). Lauren volunteers her time to help develop children’s learning in S.T.E.M across the region.
Lauren talked to the children about different designs of bridges that can be found in the world. The most common in Dumfries and Galloway is the masonry arch bridge.
Working in small groups, the children were given the challenge of initially designing and sketching a bridge that would be capable of being load bearing. They then had to select materials and combine them to meet the brief.
The boys and girls used a wide range of Higher Order thinking skills to problem solve. They had to plan, select, estimate, combine, construct, modify, improve and adapt and test their bridge construction. Further, they had to apply their soft skills of cooperating, negotiating, discussing, sharing and agreeing to complete the task – phew!
All children were completely absorbed by the task at every step of the process. They collaborated effectively in their teams and rose to the challenge. Every bridge constructed was successful in supporting a heavy load of a filled water bottle.
Future engineers in the making!
# Successful Learners
Wow! What a great learning experience!
The bridges look fantastic. Well done to all the potential, budding engineers. 🙂