An integration of simple materials and complex ideas: Description of an instructional sequence in statics

A collaborative effort between Penn State's College of Engineering and Coll ege of Education resulted in the development of an engineering course desig ned primarily for future elementary, school teachers that focuses on the co nstruction of robust conceptual understanding of basic science and engineer ing ideas'. In this article we describe an instructional approach we design ed utilizing Lego (TM) and other simple materials to assist non-engineering students in developing an understanding of the basic concepts of normal fo rces. tension. compression, equilibrium and vector components in the contex t of simple trusses.