http://www.teachengineering.org/view_activity.php?url=collection/wpi_/activities/wpi_afterlife/afterlife_sue.xmlactivitytext/xmlTufts University, ancientboatculturedesignEgyptengineering design processmodelmodernprototype

Student teams are challenged to design models of Egyptian funerary barges for the purpose of transporting mummies through the underworld to the afterlife. Planning the boat designs requires an understanding of ancient culture and beliefs so the mummies are transported safely through the perils of the underworld. Students design and build prototypes using materials and tools like the ancient Egyptians had at their disposal. Then they do the same with modern materials and techniques, forming an awareness of the similarities and differences of the barge designs between the ancient materials and tools (technologies) and today's technologies, which are evolved from the earlier ways.

Engineers work within constraints such as available materials and what would work for a certain culture. While this may seem like a limitation, it usually results in more successful designs. For example, whether designing consumer products, shelter or clean water delivery systems, the best engineering designs take into consideration the local community's culture, climate, materials, resources and labor. Students compare and contrast the ancient with the modern tools and technology used in constructing prototype barges. Students come to see that the engineering design process has remained the same since ancient times and that it is the technology that has evolved. Students realize that technology is not something totally new, but that it is as old as human civilization. Students see how modern builders copied and improved on the techniques developed by the ancient world.43TeachEngineering.orgHeather BlackwellBryan LicciadriAnthony TrinhS101FED9MassachusettsScience6.1 Identify and compare examples of transportation systems and devices that operate on each of the following: land, air, water, and space.68S101E5FCMassachusettsScience6.3 Identify and describe three subsystems of a transportation vehicle or device, i.e., structural, propulsion, guidance, suspension, control, and support.68S10257A9MassachusettsScience5.1 Describe and explain parts of a structure, e.g., foundation, flooring, decking, wall, roofing systems.68S1012153MassachusettsScience2.1 Identify and explain the steps of the engineering design process, i.e., identify the need or problem, research the problem, develop possible solutions, select the best possible solution(s), construct a prototype, test and evaluate, communicate the solution(s), and redesign.68S1010C69MassachusettsScience2.4 Identify appropriate materials, tools, and machines needed to construct a prototype of a given engineering design.68S101D432MassachusettsScience1.1 Given a design task, identify appropriate materials (e.g., wood, paper, plastic, aggregates, ceramics, metals, solvents, adhesives) based on specific properties and characteristics (e.g., weight, strength, hardness, and flexibility).68S1009558MassachusettsScience2.2 Demonstrate methods of representing solutions to a design problem, e.g., sketches, orthographic projections, multiview drawings.68S1011180MassachusettsScience2.3 Describe and explain the purpose of a given prototype.68United StatesCopyright 2012 - Tufts University, http://www.teachengineering.org/policy_ipp.phphttp://www.teachengineering.org/2011-12-298Teacher