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Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Construction Technologies: Construct the Strongest Bridge

For Teachers 6th - 8th
In this activity, students will work in pairs to create three simple types of bridges. They will observe quantitatively how the bridges work under load and why engineers use different types of bridges for different places. They also will...
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Unit Plan
Science Museum, London

Making the Modern World: Bridges

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn all about bridges in this interactive learning module.
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Unit Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Building Towards the Future

For Teachers 6th - 8th
This curricular unit introduces students to basic Civil Engineering concepts in an exciting and interactive manner. Bridges and skyscrapers, the two most visible products of Civil Engineers, will be discussed in depth. Students will have...
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Website
PBS

Pbs: Building Big: Bridges

For Students 3rd - 8th
A collection of resources about bridges that includes basic facts about bridges, challenges faced by bridge builders, famous bridges from around the world, and a lab that helps you understand how different forces affect bridge...
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Unit Plan
PBS

Pbs: Nova: Super Bridge

For Students 9th - 10th
Online companion to a NOVA program on bridges. Includes teacher resources, including a class activity through which students construct and test their own bridge,
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Website
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Smart Bridges

For Students 9th - 10th
In this video segment adapted from NOVA scienceNOW, learn about engineering innovations that could help detect a bridge's structural weaknesses before they become dangerous. [5:21]
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Website
University of California

University of California: Roman Building Technology and Architecture

For Students 9th - 10th
This site offers information on Roman Engineering, Roman Baths, Roman Aqueducts, roads, bridges, buildings and concrete.
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Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Building Our Bridge to Fun!

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students identify different bridge designs and construction materials used in modern day engineering. They work in construction teams to create paper bridges and spaghetti bridges based on existing bridge designs. Students progressively...
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Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Straw Bridges

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Working as engineering teams, students design and create model beam bridges using plastic drinking straws and tape as their construction materials. Their goal is to build the strongest bridge with a truss pattern of their own design,...
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Website
PBS

Pbs: Who Builds Big

For Students 9th - 10th
Who Builds Big? Learn about careers in engineering and architecture. Scroll to the bottom for more links in this PBS series to find about individuals who build bridges, domes, skyscrapers, dams, and tunnels.
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Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Bridge Types: Tensile & Compressive Forces

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore how tension and compression forces act on three different bridge types. Using sponges, cardboard and string, they create models of beam, arch and suspension bridges and apply forces to understand how they disperse or...
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Lesson Plan
Yale University

Yale New Haven Teachers Institute: The Physics of Bridges

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Introduce students to physics concepts that engineers use when building a bridge. This curriculum unit includes concepts such as Newton's Third Law, stress on a material, vibration, and resonance. Unit includes lectures, lab activities,...
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Unit Plan
Library of Congress

Loc: America's Story: The Brooklyn Bridge

For Students 3rd - 8th
The history of the Brooklyn Bridge is an interesting story from our early days. Go to this site and learn who built it, how it was built, and many more facts. Some original pictures are included.
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Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Bridging the Gaps

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students are presented with a brief history of bridges as they learn about the three main bridge types: beam, arch and suspension. They are introduced to two natural forces - tension and compression - common to all bridges and...
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Graphic
Tech4Learning

Pics4 Learning: Images for Education: Bridges

For Students Pre-K - 1st
A large collection of beautiful photos of various bridges from around the world! A visual reference for teachers and students. Browse through the examples, then click to enlarge.
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Lesson Plan
The Tech Interactive

The Tech Museum of Innovation: Bridging the Gap [Pdf]

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Can your team build the appropriate bridge to fit the needs of various terrains? In this lesson, students will build an assigned bridge in order to increase knowledge of various types of bridges. Students will then engage in a design...
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Lesson Plan
Other

University of Cincinnati: Project Step: Build a Bridge

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this two-period instructional activity, students work in teams to focus on the real-world application of bridge design and construction based on capacity, cost, and aesthetics.
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Interactive
PBS

Pbs Building Big: The Skyscraper Challenge

For Students 3rd - 8th
A site for all users interested in the engineering behind the building. Site engages users in a job that requires them to investigate troubled buildings and then figure out how to fix them.
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Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Natural Frequency and Buildings

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students learn about frequency and period, particularly natural frequency using springs. They learn that the natural frequency of a system depends on two things: the stiffness and mass of the system. Students see how the natural...
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Handout
Other

Nbi National Bridge Inventory Database Search Form

For Students 9th - 10th
NBI National Bridge Inventory Database search form from Nationalbridges.com allows one to enter the information related to a specific rail line in order to acquire related bridge information.
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Lesson Plan
Other

Sprk: Sphero Bridge Stem Challenge [Pdf]

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
SPRK STEM challenges are fun, interactive activities that challenge students to use creativity and team-work to move through simple steps of the design process in order to build Sphero-based creations. In this challenge students will...
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Lesson Plan
Cornell University

Cornell University: Cornell Center for Materials Research: The Physics of Bridges [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students incorporate their knowledge of civil engineering and physics principles as they design and build a bridge within certain parameters while choosing their own materials.
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Unit Plan
Next.cc

Next: Bridge Design

For Students 3rd - 8th
Investigate the three basic bridge spans by engaging in the activities provided. Includes links to explore related sites pertaining to bridge design.
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Interactive
National Endowment for the Humanities

Neh: Edsit Ement: Xerxes' Bridges Over the Hellespont

For Students 9th - 10th
Xerxes used hundreds of ships to create two bridges over the Hellespont. This interactive activity walks students through the stages of the construction.

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