Adventure: Reigning in the Rain Forest
Quest: Bug Out Bungalow
Engineering Concept: Pitched Roof and House Stilts
Challenge Level: Easy
What is the problem?
Flynn has gotten lost in the Brazilian rainforest and needs protection from the rain, bugs and critters! She has not been able to sleep and is running low on energy. She needs a shelter that is off of the ground to keep the bugs out. She also needs an area that is shaded so she doesn’t get a sunburn. Lastly, the structure needs to keep the rain out so she can stay as dry as possible.
How will the students help?
In the first segment, Flynn will ask the participants to creatively solve the problem by planning out how they will use the household materials required to build a solution. Students are encouraged to build a prototype in this segment.
In the second segment, students will research pitched roofs and house stilts to understand how they relate to the problem Flynn is facing. They will be asked to answer open-ended research questions using research links provided by Growin’GEERS and additional research they do on their own.
In the third segment, students will rebuild their initial design based on what they learned in the second segment. They will be asked to create a new plan for how they will use their materials. Once their solution is complete, there will be a Test for Success to see if their solution passes.
What will the participants learn?
Pitched roof
House stilts
How civil engineers apply those concepts
What civil engineers do
Brazilian culture
Brazilian history
Why teamwork is important
Why it is okay to fail
What do I need to complete the quest?
Access to a computer to watch the videos and research the concepts
Ability to print the GEERling worksheets for students to plan their design and answer the research questions
Household materials needed to complete the hands-on component
Want to get started?
Get access to every Growin’GEERS quest and let the engineering adventure begin!