What ideas are out there for concrete projects? I'm looking for something fun for the students to apply knowledge from a concrete unit.
Thanks!
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I attached a Word document of several concrete activities that I used last year. Most are pretty simple and my students enjoyed them. I highly recommend the Fleet Alfoat activity.
One of my student teachers did projects using cake pans as forms. She purchased them at the dollar store and used Pam to keep the concrete from sticking (see photo). I'm old fashion and think that a concrete lesson should teach something about concrete so I'd recommend using cement, sand, and pea gravel. Teach students about the correct ratio and have them mix it themselves. Since most classes are too short to wait for the concrete to set you can place in the form with "embellishments" to decorate. I see these at the fair, but please no beer bottle caps or tobacco cans!
Another fun twist is to see who can make the strongest block. Have students make a brick sized block. Have them carefully measure and record the ingredients. Let cure for a couple of weeks. Place in a hand operated hydraulic press with a pressure gauge. How many pumps will it take to make the brick fail? Experiment first (without the kids) with the test rig to get the right placement. Kids love destruction!
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Do you think that the pans sprayed with pam worked well? Or is there another alternative that would allow for a whole class to prepare with limited resources?
Hi Rose! I hope things are going well for you your first two weeks! For my concrete unit, I tried creating raised patio blocks. Students used builder's styrofoam (bought @ hardware stores) and carved in the styrofoam the design that they wanted their concrete to form. After they cured, they were able to paint their designs - they looked 3-D! I will attach the plans for this project plus some example pictures.
Alison,
I really like the project and would like to try it. How long did it take to set before you could take it out of the form and paint it? What kind of paint did you use? Did you put a "final" coat of anything on top to seal it?
Thanks!
This idea is awesome. The designs in the picture are really cool. I am going to try it this week. Thanks for the great idea.
Shawn,
I just finished up the stepping stone from Alison...we had purple builders styrofoam and it's pretty difficult to carve. It took us about 4-5 days to carve. I recommend spraying/painting the form with some sort of lubricant-ours were difficult to get out (unless I just missed that step in the directions). Otherwise, it was really fun and the kids really liked being able to make their own designs! Good luck!!!
Hi Alison -
I know you posted this along time ago, and this may be a silly question, but did you have the kids cut out around originally to get the original base? Or do you build a mold on top? I get that you have the kids dig in to the foam, but what is the original patter that you follow for the boarder?
Rose,
I have a great project that I do with concrete that is quick, easy and your students have something to take home with them. I purchased a kit called "Poetry Stones" (I think you can find it at a craft store or you may have to Google it). In the kits are different size forms where students can create their own personal brick and use letter stamps to imprint into the concrete. I purchase Quikrete and let the students mix it up, we even use concrete dye so that the concrete will really look like bricks. Don't forget to have plastic gloves available for the students when working with this mixture. Bricks take a couple of days to dry and they have a great project to take home! Quick and easy! And cost effective after you purchase the kit. Kits are usually $25 - $30, but you will be able to use it over and over. Good Luck!