Unit map for Engineering an Avalanche Protection System: A Slippery Slope.
EiE
Engineering an Avalanche Protection System
Upper Elementary
Motion & Stability
Earth’s Systems
Earth and Human Activity
Camps/STEM Classes
Kids design a system to hold or divert massive amounts of snow away from a town.
Unit Overview
In Engineering an Avalanche Protection System: A Slippery Slope kids engineer a series of barriers and catches to divert snow away from a town during a potential avalanche.
- 8 activities
- 45 minutes per activity
Standards Alignment
EiE is a collection of in-school and out-of-school units and includes programs Engineering is Elementary (K-5), Engineering Adventures (3-5), and Engineering Everywhere (6-8).
Unit Resources
Digital Resources (FREE)
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Download ResourcesUnit Map
Kids engineer a tower and are introduced to the Engineering Design Process as a problem-solving tool.
Kids discuss the definition of technology based on objects they are challenged to engineer.
Kids investigate a major cause of avalanches.
Kids investigate ways to stop falling objects by creating a catch that can stop a series of model boulders.
Kids engineer barriers to direct multiple model boulders rolling down a slope into different catches.
Kids engineer a series of catches and barriers to protect a model village from an avalanche.
Kids improve their avalanche protection systems. They will also be challenged to protect the village against an avalanche with more snow and debris.
Groups present their designs and share how they used the Engineering Design Process to engineer their avalanche protection systems.