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Activity

Cost Comparisons

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet
This Cost Comparisons activity also includes:

Our final proposal for the cost of the bridge requested is ... In the last segment in a series of 10, pairs work together to develop a proposal for a city bridge design. The class completes a cost comparison between concrete and steel to assist with estimating materials cost. The completed proposal includes a sketch of the design, a budget, time frame, and any specific design characteristics. 

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CCSS: Designed NGSS: Designed
Concepts
cost analysis, cost, budgeting, bridge design, bridges, building materials, estimation, design, proposals, steel, beams, unit rates, technology resources
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Instructional Ideas
  • Ask a civil engineer to review the proposals
  • Acquire actual construction proposals to share with the class
Classroom Considerations
  • The teams should already have knowledge of bridge construction
Pros
  • The worksheet walks the teams through the calculations needed for their proposals
  • The cost comparison worksheet comes with an answer key
Cons
  • The activity does not require the teams to think about the forces the bridge may need to withstand to determine the appropriate material