This is a unit consisting of 4 lessons in building structures to design specifications. It was written with North Carolina curriculum goals but meets National Science Education Standards "Science and Technology-Content Standard E" for 5th-8th grade. Students will move from the construction of a spaghetti cantilever, to a paper skyscrapper, to a crash test wall and finally build and test earthquake proof houses. The materials needed are simple and inexpensive. This is a wonderful introduction for students to the world of engineering.

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