Engineering: How to make wood buildings resilient to earthquakes

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Suitable for 14-18-year olds (secondary and high schools, and college), this article and accompanying activity sheet can be used in the classroom, engineering/STEM clubs and at home.

This resource links to KS4 engineering: make connections and draw conclusions based on the theoretical knowledge and understanding learnt, and the subsequent application of skills within a practical context. It is also internationally relevant.

It can also be used as a careers resource and links to Gatsby Benchmarks:
Gatsby Benchmark 2: Learning from career and labour market information
Gatsby Benchmark 4: Linking curriculum learning to careers

The article describes how a team of structural and civil engineers are working together to make timber buildings more resilient to earthquakes. It also introduces students to a shake table. The resource includes interviews with members of the team, who explain the difference between structural and civil engineering and the pathway to careers in engineering.

The activity sheet includes discussion points - eight questions the students can answer in groups or individually that relate to Blooms Taxonomy. There are also educational activities such as instructions on how to make a structurally-sound building using toothpicks and gumdrops.

This resource was first published on Futurum Careers, a free online resource and magazine aimed at encouraging 14-19-year-olds worldwide to pursue careers in science, tech, engineering, maths, medicine (STEM) and social sciences, humanities and the arts for people and the economy (SHAPE).

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