Packaging and Other Structures

Now elementary teachers can combine the best of science and technology education in a comprehensive curriculum based on everyday materials and artifacts.

Packaging & Other Structures uses a novel, engaging approach to teaching how and why bags, boxes, cartons, and bottles work to contain, protect, dispense, and display products. You need not be a technical guru or rich in resources to engage yourself and your students with these basic technologies. The materials needed are nearly all discarded items-empty bottles, boxes, and bags; cushioning materials such as Styrofoam and bubble wrap; plus a few common school supplies, including blocks, tape, and glue. Let your students discover how all kinds of packaging materials are examples of structures, and how structures are technologies designed to support mechanical loads. At the same time, meet these educational goals:

• introduce and explore fundamental themes of systems, material properties, spatial relationships, and trade-offs
• illustrate concepts of force, structure, load, and failure; compression, tension, and shear; repair, redesign, and re-use
• demystify common artifacts, and by extension, technology in general
• develop process skills in observation, classification, generalization, prediction, control of variables, design, and evaluation
• provide rich opportunities for group work
• promote environmental awareness.

Packaging & Other Structures is one of a five-volume series, Stuff That Works! A Technology Curriculum for the Elementary Grades. Developed by City Technology of City College of New York, each volume helps teachers plan and implement classroom activities and units organized around a single topic-how and why a basic technology works. The guides include an introduction to concepts, classroom stories, resources, and information about standards, as well as suggestions for teachers new to the subject. Use a single volume independently or all five to form a powerful vehicle for integrating science, math, social studies, language arts, and everyday technology. A companion website-filled with curriculum ideas and providing teacher support from hands-on workshops to forums-is available at http://citytechnology.ccny.cuny.edu. The complete series includes:

• Mechanisms & Other Systems
• Packaging & Other Structures
• Designed Environments: Places, Practices & Plans
• Signs, Symbols & Codes
• Mapping

Gary Benenson teaches at City College of New York in the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

James L. Neujahr teaches at City College of New York in the School of Education.