Choosing a Pyramid Site
Students evaluate pyramid sitesCopyright 2004 Microsoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052-6399 USA. All rights reserved.
Working in engineering project teams, students evaluate sites for the construction of a pyramid. They base their decision on site features as provided by a surveyor's report; distance from the quarry, river and palace; and other factors they deem important to the project based on their team's values and priorities.
Engineers use their critical thinking skills to evaluate potential building site locations before structures are built. They determine the ideal site characteristics required for the structure and compare the features of each available site. Site characteristics might include its topography and material composition, its distance and accessibility to construction resources, and its suitability for the structure's purpose. Engineers' choice of a site may involve trade-offs, because even though a site does not meet all requirements, is still may be the best of all the available options.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Provide examples of how engineers are faced with many choices when deciding on a final design.
- Evaluate how some early decisions affect later choices in the design process.
- List different factors and considerations that affect a decision, prioritize them, and decide among competing factors.