Unit 5: St. Francis Dam Failure (1928) | STEM Engineering Disaster & Physics

Investigate one of the worst civil engineering disasters in American history with this complete 6-page printable STEM Case Study Packet! Designed specifically for middle and high school classrooms, this unit provides a deep, informative look at the 1928 St. Francis Dam Failure, hydrostatic water pressure physics, geological uplift, pore-pressure piping erosion, concrete gravity dam mechanics, and civil engineering safety ethics. What’s Included in this 6-Page Deep-Dive Packet: Page 1: Historical Case Study & Technical Breakdown – Full historical narrative of the March 12, 1928 collapse, William Mulholland's aqueduct expansion, concrete gravity dam mechanics, fault-line piping erosion, Sespe conglomerate dissolution, and comprehension check questions. Page 2: Day in the Life Scenario Challenge – Students step into the shoes of a Lead Forensic Hydraulic Engineer on March 13, 1928, analyzing flood telemetry logs, abutment leakage diagnostics, and emergency dam failure indicators. Page 3: Hands-On Unplugged Simulation & Applied Math – Simple step-by-step math calculations comparing total hydrostatic water force (lbs) vs. dam gravity sliding resistance, uplift pressure ratios, and reservoir water volume discharge rates. Page 4: Engineering Ethics & Workplace Dilemma – Dismissing leaks vs. public safety: analyzing chief engineer oversight, relying on visual inspections without geological core testing, hubris in engineering authority, and independent dam safety regulation laws. Page 5: Redesign Brief & Innovation Lab – Creative blueprinting assignment where students design "St. Francis Dam Replacement V-2," featuring deep foundation cut-off walls, internal drainage galleries, grout curtain seals, and real-time piezometer pressure sensors. Page 6: Teacher Answer Key & Scoring Rubric – Complete answer key for all questions and math problems, plus a 10-point grading rubric on Page 6 for evaluating student work on Page 5. Teacher Benefits: 100% Unplugged & Copy-Paste Friendly – Clean text layout with zero dark background boxes, code block syntax, or special math symbols for seamless editing in Word, Google Docs, or Canva. Multi-Day Classroom Value – Covers 3 to 5 full class periods; perfect for Physics, Physical Science, Earth Science, Geology, Civil Engineering, CTE electives, or emergency sub plans. Highly Engaging Content – Combines real hydraulic fluid math, forensic geological inspection, engineering ethics, and civil dam redesign!