Other
Evaluating a Landscape
Upper Elementary
Earth’s Systems
In Classrooms
Students explore landforms and erosion and propose the best place for a model suspension bridge.
unit Overview
Students use the Engineering Design Process to make a recommendation to a village who would like to build a TarPul (suspension bridge) to cross a river. Students must balance the needs of the villagers with the type of soil and river characteristics at various sites as they make their decision.
- 5 lessons (8–9 class sessions)
Standards Alignment
We’ve developed each EiE unit with careful attention to educational standards in both science and technology/engineering.
unit Resources
Digital Resources (FREE)
YES provides these materials free of charge! Use the link below to download resources from our Google Drive.
Download ResourcesPurchase Materials
Educator Guide Pack -
$69
- Full-color print educator guide, plus multiple sets of heavy-duty reusable color-print resources (ex. vocabulary cards, materials glossaries, station signs, and student instructions) for the class.
Materials Kit -
$389
- Hands-on materials to support 24 learners.
Unit Map
Students are introduced to the concepts of engineering and technology. (30–40 min.)
The class reads a storybook in which a boy named Suman living in Nepal explores the field of Geotechnical Engineering in order to convince his father to build a bridge in the best possible location. (90–120 min., 2–3 sessions)
Students carry out investigations to observe how soil layers affect the stability of structures. (60–70 min.)
Students evaluate how compaction of soil and riverbank erosion might affect the strength of a bridge foundation. (100–110 min., 2 sessions)
Students follow the steps of the Engineering Design Process to imagine, plan, create, test, and then improve a site for their own bridge foundation. (110–120 min., 2 sessions)
Teacher Preparation Videos
View all unit viedos on YouTube.
How to Mark the Skewers and Make the Skyscraper
How to Test the TarPul
