1. Super Hero Engineering Day 1 – October 23
Designing a Web

2. Super Hero Connection
Spiderman creates webs that can help him swing from building to building, catch bad guys, and stop trains.
Wow! Just imagine how strong those fibers must be!

3. Real World Connection
Scientists and engineers have always tried to mimic and copy nature.
One such natural phenomenon is that of spider silk.
Spider silk, which spiders use to spin their webs, is one of the toughest known natural fibers. It is light, flexible and stronger, by weight, than steel.
Engineers have tried to replicate spider silk because harvesting it is too time-consuming and expensive.

4. How could we use it?
Engineers have recently created a synthetic fiber that can be used to:
Protect soldiers in battle
Protect surgeons while operating
This fiber is strong and durable. When woven in the correct pattern, it can stop objects traveling at great speeds.

5. Your Challenge
Today you will design and test a web that can catch various objects of different weights and sizes when dropped from 1 meter.
If your web breaks or the object falls through the web, your team will need to redesign and retest.
Remember that your web has to catch ALL objects (one at a time) without breaking or falling through for it to meet the requirements.
Good luck!

6. K-1 Information
Your group will use the wire hanger as the space to build your web.
In addition to the hanger, your group will get:
4 yards of yarn
2 feet of tape
You will get a new amount of tape each time you redesign.
Your group will draw a plan prior to getting the materials. Once you submit your plan, your teacher will give you the materials to get started!

7. 2-3 Information
Your group will use the wire hanger as the space to build your web.
In addition to the hanger, your group will get:
30 straws
1 foot of tape
You will get a new amount of tape each time you redesign.
Your group will draw a plan prior to getting the materials. Once you submit your plan, your teacher will give you the materials to get started!

8. 4-5 Information
Your group will use the wire hanger as the space to build your web.
In addition to the hanger, your group will get:
3 pieces of paper cut into strips
6 inches of tape
You will get a new amount of tape each time you redesign.
Your group will draw a plan prior to getting the materials. Once you submit your plan, your teacher will give you the materials to get started!

9. Reflections Kindergarten: 1st Grade: 2nd Grade:
Draw the different designs that your group tested. Circle the design that was the most successful.
1st Grade:
Write about a problem your group had to solve when designing your web.
2nd Grade:
Write about how your group worked together to solve problems and what you could do differently if you could test one more time.

10. Reflections (cont.) 3rd Grade: 4th Grade: 5th Grade:
Reflect on working as a team. Explain how communication affected your group’s success and how you worked together to solve a problem.
4th Grade:
Reflect on yourself as a member of a team. Explain how you contributed to your group’s effort and how you used listening and communication skills to be an effective team player.
5th Grade:
Reflect on the entire process. Include how your group’s design evolved through the process, how your group used observations to guide your design changes, and how communication impacted the success of your group.