The Canine, The Cat, and The Bridge - University of Houston
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Summer Activities

The Canine, The Cat, and The Bridge

This module includes the continuing adventures of the teachHOUSTON STEM Interactive (tHSI) Space Team as they explore the newly discovered Planet Alpha. The team has run into some trouble, and their mission to explore Planet Alpha has turned into a rescue mission for Captain Alqadi as Commander Kozak comes up with a plan to rescue him! Your mission is to build a prototype of a bridge that can safely transport astronauts on Planet Alpha and their rover!

The Design Challenge

  1. Build a bridge that can safely transport astronauts on Planet Alpha. Be creative!
  2. Create a 2-3-minute video advertising a pitch of your bridge prototype for the University of Houston Aerospace Program.

After this module you will be able to:

  • Apply the engineering design process by creating a bridge that can transport objects, such as the rover, across a minimum distance of 2 feet.
  • Construct a bridge that meets the requirements for the rescue mission.
  • Create a 2-3-minute-long advertisement to tell us why you have the best bridge prototype for the UH Aerospace Program to use.

CONTENT TEKS

Grade 6

  • (8) Force, motion, and energy. The student knows force and motion are related to potential and kinetic energy. The student is expected to:
    • (E) Investigate how inclined planes can be used to change the amount of force to move an object.

Grade 7

  • (2) Scientific investigation and reasoning. The student uses scientific practices during laboratory and field investigations. The student is expected to:
    • (A) Plan and implement comparative and descriptive investigations by making observations, asking well defined questions, and using appropriate equipment and technology.

Grade 8

  • (3) Scientific investigation and reasoning. The student uses critical thinking, scientific reasoning, and problem solving to make informed decisions and knows the contributions of relevant scientists. The student is expected to:
    • (C) Identify advantages and limitations of models such as size, scale, properties, and materials; and

Grade 9 Physics

  • (2) Scientific processes. The student uses a systematic approach to answer scientific laboratory and field investigative questions. The student is expected to:
    • (G) Make measurements with accuracy and precision and record data using scientific notation and International System (SI) units.

NEXT GENERATION SCIENCE STANDARDS - SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING

  • MS-ETS1-1. Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, considering relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions.

Materials

The prototype for your bridge can be built using common household materials including, but not limited to, the list presented below which provides some ideas and suggestions for materials that can be used.

Suggested Space Rover Materials

  • Popsicle sticks
  • Spaghetti/lasagna noodles
  • Rubber bands
  • Scissors
  • Glue/hot glue
  • Masking tape
  • Index cards

Safety

Please perform the bridge construction with adult supervision. Moreover, please have an adult present for the use of any sharp objects or hot glue during the build process.

Activity

Watch the activity video below.

Dig Deeper

Read This

Recommended for Middle School:

Did you know there are different types of bridges?

What is an inclined plane? Click here to find out!

Recommended for High School:

Did you know that one of the oldest bridges dates to 1523 BC? Read about the history of bridges!

Try This

Recommended for Middle School:

Did you know there are different purposes for each type of bridge? Check out the different types of bridges.

Try to choose the right kind of bridge for each situation.

Recommended for High School:

Try this balancing act using this PHET simulation.

Did you know different forces have various effects on inclined planes? Try it out in this lab.

Watch This

Recommended for Middle School:

Did you know bridges must have support to carry larger weights? This video explains how bridges support various types of weights.

Did you know triangle-shaped supports can work very well to hold large weight? Watch how triangles help to support bridges.

How are bridges built over water? Learn more about how bridges are built over water.

Recommended for High School:

Watch this to discover the forces that act on inclined planes.

Show What You Know

Meet Our Expert

Pavlina Karafillis is a mechanical engineer working at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, located at California Institute of Technology. As the Mars Rover 2020 Sample Tube Cognizant Engineer, she works on the rover’s sampling hardware. She received her bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Meet The Teachers

Dr. Mariam Manuel

Dr. Mariam Manuel
Executive Director, teachHOUSTON STEM Interactive
Clinical Assistant Professor, teachHOUSTON, Department of Mathematics, University of Houston
Dr. Mariam Manuel is a proud graduate of the University of Houston and was part of the inaugural class of the teachHOUSTON Program during its inception in 2007. She earned her Ph.D. in STEM Education through Texas Tech University, and her research interests include STEM teacher education, engineering design education, and culturally responsive pedagogy. Dr. Manuel also teaches a course that connects middle school physics content with inquiry-driven instructional strategies and teaches graduate-level coursework in Engineering Design Education for the UH STEM Master’s Program.

Arianna Ibarra

Arianna Ibarra
Biology Teacher, South Houston High School, Pasadena Independent School District.
University of Houston, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, teachHOUSTON Alumna, Biology Major 
Arianna is a 2018 graduate of the University of Houston. She obtained her degree in biology and is also an alumna of the teachHOUSTON Program. She is currently a biology teacher at South Houston High School and is pursuing her master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in STEM through Texas Tech University. This is Arianna’s fourth summer to participate in STEM camps at UH, and she is excited to work with students and teachHOUSTON undergraduates as a camp leader. In her free time, Arianna enjoys reading and building LEGO sets.

Dalton Kozak

Dalton Kozak
Mathematics Major, Physics Minor, teachHOUSTON Preservice Teacher, University of Houston, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics 
Dalton is an undergraduate student at the University of Houston. He is majoring in mathematics and minoring in physics while obtaining his teaching certification through the teachHOUSTON Program. He will student teach in Spring 2022. Dalton is on the Dean’s Distinguished Scholars List. He also does research in the mathematics department on Linear Algebra/Matrix Theory Development in Big Data and Machine Learning. He wants to go to graduate school for Theoretical Mathematics and get a Ph.D. in order to be a professor at a university. He has a particular interest in Number Theory and Complex Analysis.

Dinithi Jayasinghe

Dinithi Jayasinghe
Biotechnology Major with a concentration in Bioinformatics, teachHOUSTON Preservice Teacher, University of Houston, College of Technology 
Dinithi is an undergraduate student at the University of Houston. She is pursuing a degree in biotechnology with a concentration in bioinformatics and obtaining a teaching certificate through the teachHOUSTON Program. Dinithi would also like to attend graduate school in the future. In her spare time, she enjoys binge-watching shows across many platforms, playing piano or flute, and engaging in retail therapy.

Zaid Alqadi

Zaid Alqadi
Biology and History Double Degree, teachHOUSTON Preservice Teacher, University of Houston, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics 
Zaid is an undergraduate student at the University of Houston. He is pursuing a double degree in both biology and history while also obtaining a teaching certificate through the teachHOUSTON Program. In his spare time, Zaid likes to game on his computer, and when football season hits in September, he is rooting for his Texans.

Abhijith Asokan

Abhijith Asokan
Biochemistry Major, teachHOUSTON Preservice Teacher, University of Houston, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics 
Abhijith is an undergraduate at the University of Houston. He is currently pursuing a degree in biochemistry and obtaining a teaching certificate through the teachHouston Program. In his spare time, he likes to play some video games and binge-watch anime.

Liandra Larsen

Liandra Larsen
teachHOUSTON STEM Interactive Video Editor
Liandra is a Research Graduate Assistant for the teachHOUSTON Program. Currently, she’s pursuing her Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of Houston. Her research interests include understanding how media representation of minoritized groups impacts their personal and academic success. In her spare time, she enjoys dancing, binge-watching shows on Netflix, and overspending at Target.