In this activity, students will prototype, build, and test bridge designs.
This is a recommended pre- or post-visit activity to Animal Architects enhanced gallery experience at Science World.
All Resources
Supportive Shapes
Objectives
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Prototype, build, and test bridge designs to explore design differences.
Materials
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Per Student:
rectangular sheets of paper, uniform in size. One for each student
tape -
Per Student Group or Pair:
5 pennies or metal washers
Key Questions
- Which bridge design was the strongest? Have each group share their reasons why some bridges were stronger than others. Did the strongest bridge from each group have the same shape?
- Did the placement of the pennies have any effect on how much a bridge could hold (stacked in one spot versus spread out)?
What To Do
- As an introduction to the relationship between shapes, strength and structures, place the students in groups of 3 and give them each a sheet of paper. Within each group, have each student build a different shaped bridge. Examples of shapes include a tube, accordion, box or platform.
2. Have students place their bridges so that they span a gap between 2 stacks of books, or desktops.
3. Now have the groups compare strengths of the different designs by using coins as measured weights. Place coins, one at a time, on each bridge—first as a stack and then spread out—and record the number of coins that the bridge will hold before it collapses.
