Materials
Materials can be anything you fi nd around your house. Some suggestions are:
- Straws
- Toothpicks
- Marshmallows
- Uncooked Spaghetti Noodles
- Paper Towel or Toilet Paper Rolls
- Newspaper
- Index Cards or Paper
- Tape
challenge
Bridges were created to grant humans passage over obstacles such as bodies of water, valleys, and other natural terrain. Use materials found around your house to create a bridge. Test your bridge with additional objects from home. Does your bridge withstand the weight of a toy car or other small object? Can you build a bridge that is strong enough to hold the weight of two books?
Big Idea
The earliest bridges date back to the ancient Greeks. Today we use bridges to navigate our everyday lives. Have you ever heard of the Golden Gate Bridge or the Brooklyn Bridge? These are two of the most famous bridges in the United States. Although not as well known, we have lots of bridges here in St. Louis. They may not be as famous as the Golden Gate Bridge but they sure are useful!
Instructions
- Collect materials from around your house to create your bridge.
- Use one of the photos provided or look up an example of a bridge online.
- Bend, twist, fold, and tape your materials together to create a bridge.
Examples of bridges that could be built at home
