http://www.teachengineering.org/view_activity.php?url=collection/wpi_/activities/wpi_which_roof_is_tops/which_roof_is_tops.xmlactivitytext/xmlCenter for Engineering Educational Outreach, climateroofsdesign

When you walk or drive around your neighborhood what do the roofs look like? What if you lived in an area with a different climate, how would that effect the style of roof that you might find. This is an introductory activity to explore the advantages of different roof shapes for different climates or situations.

Civil engineers must always consider the climate of the area in which they plan to build their structures. The design and material chosen for the roof of a building can help in maintaining the appropriate temperature within the building and providing a stable structure to protect against the weather. Materials both natural and human-made have specific characteristics which determine how they will be used.Engineering design requires creative thinking and consideration of a variety of ideas to solve practical problems.140TeachEngineering.orghttp://www.teachengineering.org/collection/wpi_/activities/wpi_which_roof_is_tops/student_worksheet.dochttp://www.teachengineering.org/collection/wpi_/activities/wpi_which_roof_is_tops/student_worksheet.pdfS10267F9MassachusettsScience1.3 Identify and describe the safe and proper use of tools and materials (e.g., glue, scissors, tape, ruler, paper, toothpicks, straws, spools) to construct simple structures.-12S1002287MassachusettsScience2.1 Identify tools and simple machines used for a specific purpose, e.g., ramp, wheel, pulley, lever.-12S1011696MassachusettsScience4. Demonstrate that the way to change the motion of an object is to apply a force (give it a push or a pull). The greater the force, the greater the change in the motion of the object.-12United StatesCopyright 2012 - Center for Engineering Educational Outreach, Tufts Universityhttp://www.teachengineering.org/policy_ipp.phphttp://www.teachengineering.org/2008-09-261Teacher