Hurricane Challenge - “A Place for a Pig”

Who’s Afraid Of The Big Bad Wolf – “A Place for a Pig”

Design Brief

The question:

How can we construct a Place for a Pig that will keep the pig safe from the big bad wolf?

The problem:

Design and build a model of a house from the given materials that will continue to stand when exposed to three tests.

Design constraints:

You may choose any THREE types of available building materials.
The pig must be able to get inside (for shelter)
It must stay together when the hairdryer or fan (the wolf huffing and puffing) blows on it (it can move, but it can’t fall apart).
It must support 100g of weight on the top (the weight of the wolf on the roof).

Design Procedure:

Follow the steps of the Engineering Design Process

Ask— How can we construct a Place for a Pig that will keep the pig safe from the wolf?
Imagine—Talk to your team about possible designs.
Plan—Decide what materials, from the materials provided, will you use to create your solution.
Create—Build your solution according to your team’s plan. Make alterations as needed.
Improve—Based on the results of your testing, determine how your solution can be made better.

Materials

If possible, have a box fan, table fan or hairdryer available for testing.

Test Procedure:

Take your house to the testing station.
Place your house at the testing line for testing on a flat surface.
Check whether or not the mini-figure can fit inside.
If using a fan or hairdryer, set the house about 36 in away and turn it on. Try at again at 24 in and 18 in.
- Alternatively, blow on the house three times for as long and hard as you can or use a magazine, book or other flat paper to act as a fan.
Assess whether the house moves at all, whether the roof remains intact and whether the walls remain standing.
Rebuild as many times as you like to improve your house.
- Use what you learn for each test to build a better house.

Project Description: Erin Denniston, M.Ed
Photography: Donald KALLGREN

Hurricane Challenge – “A Place for a Pig”