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🏗️ Weeks 5-6: KEVA Engineering Challenges

Unit Overview
Grade Level Grades 3-4
Duration 2 sessions (40 min each)
STREAM Focus E (Engineering), M (Math)

Weeks 5-6: KEVA Engineering Challenges

🎯 Learning Objectives

STEM Objectives

Students will be able to: 1. Apply engineering design process to construction challenges 2. Build structures within specific constraints 3. Test structures and iterate on designs 4. Calculate and compare structural measurements

Faith Integration Objectives

Students will be able to: 1. Connect building to Biblical stories (Tower of Babel, Temple) 2. Understand that collaboration builds better than competition 3. Practice patience and perseverance

Weeks 5-6: KEVA Engineering Challenges

🙏 Faith-Reason Integration

Catholic Teaching Connection

Building God's Kingdom — The Bible is full of building stories — Noah's Ark, Solomon's Temple, and even the Tower of Babel. What we build and WHY we build matters. When we use our skills to serve others and glorify God, our work has eternal value.

Scripture Connection

"Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain." — Psalm 127:1

Saint Connection

St. Barbara — Patron saint of architects and builders. Legend says she had a third window added to her tower to represent the Trinity. Engineers throughout history have built structures to honor God.

📚 Materials Needed

  • KEVA planks (200+ per group)

  • Measuring tapes and rulers

  • Challenge cards with specifications

  • Testing weights

  • Recording sheets

  • Timer

Session 1: Tower Challenge

📝 Lesson Procedure (40 minutes)

Opening Prayer & Introduction (5 min)

Prayer: "Master Builder, You designed the universe with wisdom and care. Help us build with creativity and cooperation today. May our work reflect Your glory. Amen."

Story connection: Brief discussion of Tower of Babel (Genesis 11)

  • "What went wrong with the Tower of Babel?"

  • "It wasn't that they built — it's WHY and HOW they built"

  • "Today, we'll build to learn and help each other"

Engineering Challenge Introduction (5 min)

Tower Challenge specifications:

  • Build the tallest tower possible

  • Must stand for 10 seconds without support

  • Must fit within 12" x 12" base area

  • Only KEVA planks allowed

Constraints:

  • Time limit: 15 minutes

  • Must be able to explain your design choices

Discuss:

  • "What makes towers strong?"

  • "What engineering strategies might help?"

  • Wide base, triangles, weight distribution

Design & Plan (5 min)

Teams plan before building:

  • Sketch basic design

  • Discuss strategy with team

  • Assign roles (builder, measurer, etc.)

Building Challenge (15 min)

Build time!

Teacher circulates:

  • "Tell me about your design"

  • "What's making it stable?"

  • "What would you change?"

Checkpoints:

  • 5 min: "How's your foundation?"

  • 10 min: "What adjustments are you making?"

  • 14 min: "One minute to finalize!"

Testing & Measurement (7 min)

Test each tower:

  • Start timer when hands are removed

  • Must stand 10 seconds

  • Measure height of successful towers

Record results on class chart.

Discussion:

  • "What strategies worked?"

  • "What caused failures?"

  • "What would you try differently?"

Closing (3 min)

Faith Connection: "Building takes patience and teamwork. The builders of the great cathedrals worked for generations — they knew they might never see the finished building. That's faith! What we start can continue beyond us."

Preview: "Next time, we'll build bridges with even more constraints!"

Session 2: Bridge Challenge

📝 Lesson Procedure (40 minutes)

Opening Prayer & Review (4 min)

Prayer: "God of all creation, You are the bridge between heaven and earth. Help us build bridges today — structures that connect and support. Amen."

Review: "What did we learn about building towers?"

Bridge Challenge Introduction (6 min)

Bridge Challenge specifications:

  • Must span a 12-inch gap

  • Must hold at least 1 pound of weight

  • Structure cannot touch the "water" below

  • Only KEVA planks allowed

Additional constraint: Limited materials — only 75 planks per team!

Discuss bridge types:

  • Beam bridges (flat across)

  • Arch bridges (curved support)

  • Truss bridges (triangular support)

Question: "With limited materials, which design might be most efficient?"

Design Phase (5 min)

Teams plan:

  • Consider bridge type

  • Plan material usage

  • Sketch design

  • Discuss weight distribution

Building Challenge (15 min)

Build time with limited materials!

Teacher support:

  • "How are you managing your plank budget?"

  • "Where does the weight need to go?"

  • "How are you distributing force?"

Material management:

  • Teams must count and track planks

  • No "borrowing" from other teams

  • Strategy matters!

Testing & Analysis (7 min)

Load testing:

  • Place bridges across 12" gap

  • Add weight gradually

  • Record maximum weight held

Record and compare:

  • Which designs held the most?

  • How did different teams use their 75 planks?

  • What's the relationship between design and strength?

Math integration:

  • Calculate efficiency: weight held ÷ planks used

  • Compare ratios across teams

Reflection & Closing (3 min)

Discussion:

  • "How did the material constraint change your approach?"

  • "What did you learn about bridge design?"

Faith Connection: "In life, we often have constraints — limited time, resources, or abilities. But constraints can spark creativity! God uses our limitations to show His power and help us grow."

Closing Prayer: "Thank You, God, for the gift of engineering. Help us use our skills to build bridges — not just of wood and stone, but bridges of understanding, friendship, and love. Amen."

✅ Assessment

Session 1

  • Built tower meeting specifications

  • Used engineering strategies (wide base, structural elements)

  • Collaborated effectively with team

Session 2

  • Built bridge meeting span and weight requirements

  • Worked within material constraints

  • Calculated and compared efficiency

📎 Home Connection

"We were structural engineers! Ask your child: 'What made your tower/bridge strong?' 'How did you work within constraints?' Build together at home — try building a bridge from cardboard that can hold a small toy. Discuss how working with limits helps us be creative!"

Unit Version: 1.0 | Last Updated: 2025-12-05