Engineering is the practical application of a knowledge Mathematics and Science. In Junior and Senior Infants, we are very good at designing and building. We use our knowledge of Maths and Science to help us. For example, our Mathematical knowledge allowed us to build these 3D shapes with cocktail sticks and Playdough.
We do construction activities regularly as part of Aistear. We make a plan with our group. Then we work together as a team to build very interesting constructions. Sometimes we use Polydrons.
Other days, we use Lego.
Sometimes we use big wooden blocks.
Sometimes we build whole towns...
...or even libraries, farms or igloos!!
We are very good at problem solving. When our fire truck was broken, we needed to fix the engine before we could drive it to the scene of the fire.
And when we are presented with an array of junk materials, we use our design and construction skills to turn them into something brand new.
Engineering skills are used not only in Infants, but all the way up the school. In Sixth Class, for example, we used our Engineering skills to build space buggies. We worked in groups and learned to communicate and share our skills just like real engineers. We really saw the importance of planning, mathematical precision and creativity to the success of the project.
Sixth Class were focusing on bridges in Term Two. We began by learning about how bridges are made and why certain designs are used. Then we went to visit and inspect some bridges in the local area. It was funny because we visited three bridges in locations that we walk by everyday and lots of us hadn't even noticed them before! We were trying to use our knowledge of bridges to identify their characteristics. It was very interesting to realise the thought and mathematical process that goes into constructing a bridge.
Next, we were given a task to complete. We had 100 lollipop sticks and some sellotape and we were told we had to design and construct a bridge. We used the Engineers Week planning resource to help us to work just like engineers. When it was finished, the bridge had to hold at least 5kg. We had a lot of fun putting all of the engineering ideas to use to build our bridges. It was also very interesting to see that, although each group had been given the same information and the same materials, each bridge was unique.
In keeping with our Engineers Week planning tool the class looked at how they could improve the design of their bridges. This really had us all thinking about little details that we had not fully thought about. For example one group had focused so much on creating a sturdy "pathway" that they had forgotten to build up the sides of the bridges! During phase two of their planning they made sure that they altered this part of their design.
Once completed, we had the chance to test out our bridges. This was so fun as we had the opportunity to try to crush our bridges! Construction and destruction are two things that sixth class really enjoy!
It was so much fun to complete a task that engineers would work on all of the time. We also love seeing bridges now because we get to identify them and to guess why the engineers constructed them using those characteristics. Like these bridges below - can you identify what type of bridge they are?