Lesson Planet
Search educational resources
  • Sign In Try It Free
  • AI Teacher Tools
    • Discover Resources Search reviewed educational resources by keyword, subject, grade, type, and more
    • Curriculum Manager (My Content) Manage saved and uploaded resources and folders To Access the Curriculum Manager Sign In or Join Now
    • Browse Resource Directory Browse educational resources by subject and topic
    • Curriculum Calendar Explore curriculum resources by date
    • Lesson Planning Articles Timely and inspiring teaching ideas that you can apply in your classroom
    • Our Story
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Testimonials
    • Contact Us
  • Pricing
  • School Access
    • Your school or district can sign up for Lesson Planet — with no cost to teachers
      Learn More
  • Sign In
  • Try It Free

Hi, what do you want to do?

Create a lesson plan
Create a lesson plan
Generate resources with 80+ AI teacher tools
Generate resources with 80+ AI teacher tools
Search 200,000 instructional videos
Search 200,000 instructional videos
Find a teaching resource
Find a teaching resource
Strength of Materials Lesson PlanStrength of Materials Lesson Plan
Publisher
Teach Engineering
Resource Details
Curator Rating
Educator Rating
Not yet Rated
Grade
6th - 8th
Subjects
STEM
1 more...
Resource Types
Lesson Plans
4 more...
Audience
For Teacher Use
Duration
30 mins
Instructional Strategy
Direct Instruction
Technology
Projection
Internet Access
Year
2006
Usage Permissions
Fine Print: Educational Use
Lesson Plan

Strength of Materials

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet
This Strength of Materials lesson plan also includes:
  • Strength of Materials Worksheet (PDF)
  • Strength of Materials Worksheet (Doc)
  • Strength of Materials Worksheet Answers (PDF)
  • Strength of Materials Worksheet Answers (Doc)
  • Strength of Materials Math Worksheet (PDF)
  • Strength of Materials Math Worksheet (Doc)
  • Strength of Materials Math Worksheet Answers (PDF)
  • Strength of Materials Math Worksheet Answers (Doc)
  • Project
  • Vocabulary
  • Vocabulary
  • Graphic & Image
  • Join to access all included materials

Pupils examine a stress-strain diagram that compares the advantages and disadvantages of the two common bridge building materials, concrete and steel. The also consider the factors that influence the materials builders choose for their bridges.

66 Views 43 Downloads
CCSS: Designed

Concepts

force, steel, bridges, bridge design, design, building materials, technology resources

Additional Tags

aggregate, bridge, concrete, force, steel

Instructional Ideas

  • Create a web quest to have the class find the information needed to meet the learning objectives
  • Bring in pieces of concrete and steel that are about the same size to make comparisons between the two materials

Classroom Considerations

  • The class should have an understanding of the forces that affect the several bridge types
  • The seventh installment in a series of 10

Pros

  • The Strength of Materials Worksheet reinforces the vocabulary from the lesson and unit
  • The lesson plan contains the details needed to meet the listed lesson objectives

Cons

  • Does not cover the formulas used in the Strength of Materials Math Worksheet

Common Core

6.NS.B.3 6.EE.A.2.a 7.G.B.4 7.G.B.6

See similar resources:

Worksheet

Spaghetti Bridges: Student Worksheet

Curated OER
Here is a wonderful activity that allows young engineers to try their hand at designing a bridge out of spaghetti! The worksheet explains the activity and also provides a graph for keeping track of the results. Very good!
4th - 6th STEM
Lesson Plan

Popsicle Bridge

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Using popsicle sticks and glue, groups must work together to design and build a bridge that can support weight and is aesthetically pleasing. The lesson begins by learners reading about different features of bridge architecture, followed...
2nd - 12th Math
Lesson Plan

Bridge Building

Cornell University
Bridge the gaps in your knowledge of bridges. Individuals learn about bridge types by building models. The activity introduces beam bridges, arch bridges, truss bridges, and suspension bridges.
3rd - 8th Science
Lesson Plan

Bridging the Gaps

Teach Engineering
The London Bridge should not have fallen down. And here's why. After a brief history of bridges and the three main types, class members are introduce to the concepts of tension and compression, the two main forces acting upon bridges. 
6th - 8th STEM
Instructional Video

What if Cracks in Concrete Could Fix Themselves?

TED-Ed
Concrete, heal thyself! A fascinating video describes the self-healing properties of concrete, known as autonomous healing. Pupils also learn about ways that engineers try to make concrete more resistant to cracks, such as by adding...
5 mins 6th - 12th Science
Lesson Plan

Put Your Truss in Building Bridges

Curated OER
Students apply abstract concepts, such as stress, fulcrums, the law of gravity, and the strength of different geometric shapes. Groups of student contractors operate simulated architectural firms to create strong, economical bridges.
5th - 8th STEM
Activity

Straw Bridges

Museum of Science
There is never a bridge too far. Using common items, class members build bridges to span an opening. Pupils test different geometric shapes to determine which is the strongest. Learners use pennies to find the strength of their bridges...
K - 6th Science
Activity

Magnetic or Not?

Teach Engineering
 The class must determine the magnetic properties of different materials, including aluminum and steel by sorting through materials using a magnet. Groups make a prediction on whether a material is magnetic and then perform...
8th - 10th Science
Lesson Plan

Designing Bridges

Teach Engineering
Introduces your class to the types of loads experienced by a bridge. Groups calculate the ultimate load combinations to determine the maximum load requirement. Using this information, builders then determine the amount of material...
6th - 8th STEM
CCSS: Designed
Activity

Straw Bridges

Teach Engineering
Pairs work as engineering teams to design and build model bridges from drinking straws and tape. In this third segment in a series of 10, teams compete in an attempt to build the strongest bridge. To help with the design, the groups...
6th - 8th STEM
Try It Free
© 1999-2026 Learning Explorer, Inc.
Teacher Lesson Plans, Worksheets and Resources

Sign up for the Lesson Planet Monthly Newsletter

Open Educational Resources (OER)

  • Health
  • Language Arts
  • Languages
  • Math
  • Physical Education
  • Science
  • Social Studies
  • Special Education
  • Visual and Performing Arts
View All Lesson Plans

Discover Resources

  • Our Review Process
  • How it Works
  • How to Search
  • Create a Collection

Manage Curriculum

  • Edit a Collection
  • Assign to Students
  • Manage My Content
Contact Us Site Map Privacy Policy Terms of Use