Lesson on Bridges
| Lesson on Bridges |
Building from a previous lesson that varied the thickness of a paper "bridge," this lesson is based on the data that student collect on the relationship between the length of a paper "bridge" and the number of pennies that can be supported by the bridge before it collapses. This exploration entails and inverse, non-linear relationship and helps students connect graphical and tabular representations and use them to make predictions about the breaking weight of other bridges. |
| Reflection Topics & Videos |
Tasks
Discourse
Student Learning
Teaching Decisions
The Mathematics |
| Lesson Plan (PDF) |
Review the complete lesson plan and accompanying worksheets. |
| Student Work |
View student work from this lesson. |
| Engaging in the Mathematics |
1. Suppose that a paper bridge 4" long can support a weight of 45 pennies and a bridge of 11" long can support a weight of 3 pennies. Construct a graph of this data, describing what is the independent variable and what is the dependent variable, and connect the two points with a line or a curve that you predict reflects the relationship between these two variables.
2. Based on your graph, explain in words, using mathematical language, exactly what happens to the breaking weight of a bridge as its length increases, assuming there is no change in its thickness.
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| About the Teacher |
Nancy Barthel, 8th Grade
Folwell Middle School
Minneapolis, MN
Carla Steinbach, principal |
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