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STEM Project: Seventh Grade Hurricane Houses

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The seventh grade’s first unit of study this year in earth science was weather. Students learned about weather tools and factors as well as big weather events such as thunderstorms, tornadoes, and hurricanes. In class, students practiced tracking hurricanes and kept a close eye on the path of hurricane Jouquin as it approached the U.S. The culminating weather activity was a STEM project in which 7th graders worked in small groups to build a structure that could withstand hurricane force winds.
This activity began with a brainstorming session where the kids came up with a list of things that could/would cause damage to a house during a hurricane. Kids came up with a list that included high winds, storm surges, flooding, power outages and torrential rainfall. They then came up with ways to make a house that could withstand hurricane force winds. Ideas included reinforced walls, hurricane shutters, and the shape of the building.
Students were then given a list of building materials and construction constraints. The house had to be 2000 cu. Cm or more and it had to include two windows and a door. They then drew their house plans and listed the dimensions before actually building the house. Due to the unique designs of the houses, many students used volume formulas for cones, pyramids and spheres.
Finally, it was time to test! A leaf blower was used to replicate hurricane force winds. The ability of the house to withstand hurricane force winds was judged by how close the leaf blower could get to the house before the house was destroyed. Twenty feet away was a category one, 15 ft a category two etc.
To wrap up this activity students discussed what worked and what didn’t with regards to stability. Kids also discussed how building a simple model could be applied to “real” buildings.

Science – What are hurricanes? What causes them? How difficult are they to predict? How can we stay safe?
Technology - Track hurricanes. Research hurricane safe houses
Engineering - Build a hurricane safe house
Math– Use formulas to calculate 2000 cu. Cm.
Category
Children Activities

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