It takes a strong foundation to build a house and a stronger one for a bridge. This resource presents the effects of geology and soil on bridge foundations. Working in groups, the class investigates the interaction of shallow and deep foundations with the soil layers. The teams calculate the bearing pressures from the data collected during their investigation. 

Concepts

bridge design, bridges, geology, soil, pressure, technology resources

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Instructional Ideas

• Find the soil profile of a site near the school and create the test beds to model it
• Construct a wooden foundation model for each group

Classroom Considerations

• The activity requires the setup of the test beds prior to beginning the lesson
• The sixth in a series of 10 resources

Pros

• Comes with an optional math sheet to add calculations to the activity — a more advanced option
• The resource has assessments that can be used throughout the lesson and the activity

Cons

• The lesson plan does include instructional strategies 

Common Core

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