The Inventors Projects

QUAKE SHAKER

We believe in projects that bring together science, art, and creativity, inspiring children to learn in a practical and engaging way

Discover, as a family, how this experience inspires curious minds and sparks children’s scientific interest. Together, we can:

  •  Reviewing the concepts learned in class
  • Explore the legacy of Kiyoshi Muto, and understand the importance behind the earthquake engineering
  • Stimulate curiosity and encourage critical thinking in young inventors!

Let’s turn learning into a memorable and fun experience!

Let´s shake curiosity

The Quake Shaker project allows young inventors to explore the fascinating world of tectonic plates and seismic engineering

With this project, creativity comes to life, learning that are no limits to imagination. Young inventors learn about the basics principals of how to build structures that can withstand earthquakes..

Through this experience, using an earthquake simulator known as the ‘Quake Shaker’, young inventors will test the strength of their structures during a simulated ‘earthquake’.

All of this takes place in a stimulating environment where children’s inventive and creative spirit is nurtured, promoting teamwork, spontaneity, and curiosity

About InspiringInventors

Kiyoshu Muto

Kiyoshu Muto

1903-1989

Was a japanese architect and structural engineer. He is considered the “father of the Japanese skyscraper” for his contributions to earthquake engineering. He entered the department of Architecture at Tokyo Imperial University (now the University of Tokyo) in 1922 and graduated in 1925. In 1935 he was appointed Professor of Structural Engineering, a post which he held for almost 30 years, developing and teaching the principles of earthquake-resistant design. After retiring from the University of Tokyo in 1963, Muto became executive vice president of Kajima Corporation, a major construction company. He also founded his own company, the Muto Institute of Structural Mechanics, in 1965. At Kajima, he led the team that designed Japan’s first high-rise building, the 36-story Kasumigaseki Building. Among his innovations for this building was first energy dissipation system used in Japan, a slit wall system consisting of precast reinforced concrete strips that stabilized the building under strong winds and small earthquakes and absorbed the energy of strong earthquakes

Ask Kiyoshi Muto

The AI version of Kiyoshi Muto answers your questions

This dialogue box uses artificial intelligence and is configured to respond exclusively to questions related to the project, its concepts and associated fields, as well as queries and curiosities about the history of each inventor. Questions outside this scope may not be answered. Always use under adult supervision.

Thank you for your understanding.

ConceptsCovered

Tectonic Plates

  • Tectonic Plates: The Earth’s crust is made up of sections called “tectonic plates” that interact
    with one another. In some areas, they move apart, in other they collide, and in others, they
    scrape past each other. These interactions are often responsible for the shaking – known as
    earthquakes – that we feel.

 

 

Seismic Engineering

  • Seismic Engineering : This is the field that studies how buildings and structures react to
    earthquakes. Thanks to seismic engineering, various shock absorption techniques have been
    developed. One of these is allowing a building to sway with the vibrations of the earthquake,
    preventing it from collapsing.

Why this project?

The Quake Shaker project was created with three main objectives:

  1. Exploring seismic engineering: In this project, the young inventors will design and build structures that need to be resilient enough to withstand earthquakes. Using a tremor simulator known as the “Quake Shaker”, the students will test the strength of their structures during a simulated “earthquake”. The activity encourages exploration, creativity, and an understanding of how different types of construction respond to external forces
  2. Encouraging problem-solving: This experience also allows young inventors to spark  problem-solving in a real and meaningful context. It prepares young minds to become future engineers and scientists, equipping them with essential knowledge and skills in a world that requires creative solutions to complex challenges.
  3. Understaing the impact of these concepts in society: The knowledge of tectonic plate movements and the application of seismic engineering are fundamental to building safer environments in earthquake-prone regions. These discoveries have saved countless lives and reduced material damage by enabling the construction of buildings that can withstand strong tremors.

At the end of the sessions, children will also gain a newfound appreciation for the world of seismic engineering, celebrating their success by building their own Quake Shaker!

Together, let’s discover how this experience can shake curiosity!

Challenges for you

Ask your young inventor what excited them the most in class, or turn this topic into a bit of family fun, by building simple structures at home and testing them using your own “homemade shake method”!

For the boldest ones, how about recording and sharing it with us on social media? We’d love to showcase the best structers… and also the others!

Link to Instagram

Together, let's turn learning into a "solid structure"

The Inventors UK
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