SOLVE+-++Bridge+Building+Activity

SOLVE: A Bridge Building Activity Ancillae-Assumpta Academy

In this activity, you will design, build, test, and evaluate a bridge that must cross a gap of 50 cm only using certain materials.  Problem to solve: How can your group build a model bridge that will span a 50 cm gap between two tables? The bridge must "stand alone" (support itself) between the 2 tables (you may not hold the bridge in place with your hands and you cannot have any supports in the 50 cm gap). How will your bridge stand up to some competition? Will your group's bridge be able to hold the most weight? **__Prepare__** Divide up into teams of approximately 4 members. Print a worksheet (one per group) to help you plan and evaluate your design: Make sure to come up with a team name! **__Part 1: Design__** In order to learn about bridge design, you will first learn about types of bridges. Use the following links to research different types of bridges and complete the questions listed on the worksheet. [|Fact Monster: Modern Bridge Design] [|Geometry of Bridge Construction] [|How Bridges Work: The Basics] Now that you have learned a little about bridges, how about an activity to help you decide how each type of bridge is used: [|PBS NOVA Super Bridge Activity: "Build a Bridge"] Step 1: Survey the 4 sites Step 2: Do your homework - make sure to record your answers on the worksheet Step 3: Play the game Now you are ready to design your bridge! Look at the materials provided. How can the materials be used to make the bridge shapes ou have investigated? With your team, sketch some bridge designs on your worksheet. Discuss the good and bad points of each design. Decide on a design that will meet the requirements. Tell why you choose that design on your worksheet. **__Part 2: Build__** Choose the materials you will use to construct your team's bridge. Materials: Drinking straws, craft sticks, heavy paper, newspaper, copy paper, string, glue, tape, stapler, cups, scissors, meter sticks (for measuring only - you may not use in the bridge construction) Build the bridge according to the design chosen by your group.

**__Part 3: Test__** Use a meter stick and two tables or desks to create a gap of 50 cm. Test each group's bridge by placing the bridge across the gap and adding books until the bridge collapses. Bridges will be constructed to stand alone but will be taped into place for testing (so the bridge must be longer than 50 cm to be taped into place). Note: all books must be of equal weight. Make sure to count the number of books it takes to collapse each bridge. Record the results for each team on your worksheet. Make comments about the construction of each bridge. The bridge which holds the most books is the winner!

**__Part 4: Evaluate__** Discuss with your team and record on your worksheet: Based on your results, did your model bridge meet the requirements? Compare your model with the models of other teams. Which bridge designs performed best in the test? What was different about the strongest bridge models? How did these differences make the models stronger? Based on your observations of all the models, how would you change your design? Click [|here] to answer the questions above (and a few more questions)

**__Challenge Activity__** Link to more sophisticated bridge building activity (webquest designed for 11th and 12th grade students): [|"Go Bridge the Gap"]