Building with a Variety of Materials - Lesson 6 | Building Bridges

Downloadable (1 PDF - 6 pages)

The Building Bridges activity can also be found within the Building with a Variety of Materials - Let's Do Science Bundle. If you are interested in purchasing this activity and more, you can check out the Building with a Variety of Materials bundle here.

Ideal for grade 3, in this hands-on design challenge, students are asked to construct a bridge that can withstand the greatest amount of mass. Focus is on identification of forces, documenting the design with a drawing and making design decisions based on testing results/peer feedback.

By the end of the activity students should be able to:

• Use a variety of materials to construct a bridge
• Use a variety of designs to construct a bridge
• Compare effectiveness of various designs and materials
• Work with other students, using skills such as listening, speaking and problem solving in order to complete a construction project
• Store materials safely and properly

Additional resources included with the activity plan:

• Peer review sheet
• Rubric
• Arch bridge example photo

Additional resources required:

• Coins
• Tape measure
• Various construction materials