| Activity: Bridges |
Topic |
Grade |
Source | Time | Special Materials |
| *Paper Bridge: Can you make a paper bridge that can support 100 pennies? | General | 3-4, 5-6 | ZOOM | 30 min. | Per group: 3 or 4 sets of 100+ pennies |
| *Shape It Up! Discover which shapes are the strongest and most stable for building bridges. | General | 3-4, 5-6 | ASCEville | 45 min. | n/a |
| Straw Bridge: Build a bridge using straws and pins that can support 100 pennies in a cup. | Truss | 3-4, 5-6 | ZOOM | 45 min. | Per group: 3 or 4 sets of 100+ pennies |
| Suspension Bridge: How many books can your bridge hold? | Suspension | 3-4, 5-6 | ZOOM | 45 min. | n/a |
| What Gives? Can you build a suspension bridge out of cardboard that won’t collapse under the weight of a pile of books? | Suspension | 3-4, 5-6 | FETCH! | 45 min. | n/a |
| Truss Me! Build a truss bridge out of straws. | Truss | 5-6 | ASCEville | 45 min. | Per group: 3 or 4 sets of 100+ pennies |
| Arch Bridge: How do the abutments support an arch bridge? | Arch | 5-6, 7-8 | NOVA | 30 min. | n/a |
| Beam Bridge: What happens when a load pushes down on a beam bridge? | Beam | 5-6, 7-8 | NOVA | 30 min. | n/a |
| Bridge Building: Can you build strong bridge piers out of Spaghetti? | Piers | 5-6, 7-8 | NOVA | 1 hour | n/a |
| Bridge Types: Tensile and Compressive Forces Locate compressive and tensile forces acting on various types of bridges. | Multiple Types | 5-6, 7-8 | Teach Engineering | 45 min. | n/a |
| Construction Technologies: Create the Strongest Bridge: Build and test 3 types of bridges. | Multiple Types | 5-6, 7-8 | Teach Engineering | 2 hours | n/a |
| Load It Up! Test the maximum load that bridge piers can withstand. | General | 5-6, 7-8 | Teach Engineering | 1 hour | Per group: scale. Per team: modeling clay pieces (2 in x 2 in x 3 in); high-density foam, about 1 ft. x 1-2-in. thick. |
| *Paper Bridge: Can you build a strong bridge out of one piece of paper? | General | 5-6, 7-8 | Building Big | 30 min | n/a |
| Popsicle Bridge: Design and build their own bridge out of up to 200 popsicle sticks and glue. | General | 5-6, 7-8 | Try Engineering | 3 45-min. sessions | n/a |
| Spaghetti Bridge: Make a bridge out of spaghetti! | General | 5-6, 7-8 | Teach Engineering | 2 hours | Per group: glue gun; weights from 5lbs-50lbs; chain (to hold weights); metal strips Per team: 1 metal strip |
| Straw Bridges: Design and build a truss bridge | Truss | 5-6, 7-8 | Teach Engineering | 45 min. | n/a |
| Tension and Suspense! Build a suspension bridge with chairs, cardboard, and string. | Suspension | 7-8 | ASCEville | 45 min. | n/a |
*Indicates whether an activity is suitable for a community event. Activities considered appropriate for a large-scale community event are attention-grabbing but simple; use inexpensive materials; require minimal instruction, supervision, and cleanup; and can be modified to take place over a short period of time (about 15-20 minutes).
