Concrete 101
By Tubbesing, Julie on April 07, 2014
On March 20 and March 28 representatives from Nebraska Concrete & Aggregates Association (NC&AA) gave presentations on cement and concrete for the Johnson County Central fifth graders.
Jereme Montgomery and his associates, Craig and Mitch Neemann, explained the difference between cement and concrete. The students, working in pairs, mixed concrete, and then they carefully made a concrete bar on March 20.
A week later on March 28 the team from NC&AA returned to test the students' concrete bars. Each group of students added one-half pound weights to a bucket suspended from their bar. When the bar broke, the students recorded how much weight their bar held before it fell apart. The bar of winning team of Kathia Castor and Katie Little held 29 pounds! The students learned through this activity that the correct mixture of cement, sand, and water was needed to make the strongest concrete bar.
The fifth graders enjoyed the presentations and the activity provided by NC&AA. They were very excited that they were given the opportunity to take part in Concrete 101.