Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Building a Paper Bridge: an Introduction To Problem Solving

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders explore problem solving strategies to build a paper bridge with a partner. As a class they discuss a variety of techniques to solve a simple problem, then in pairs construct the longest non-supported single span bridge...
Lesson Plan
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Build a Cardboard Bridge That Can Hold Potatoes

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Learners identify the characteristics of a bridge and build with junk materials.  In this bridge building lesson, students use cereal boxes, paper towel or toilet paper tubes and tape to create their bridges.  Bridges must...
Lesson Plan
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Put Your Truss in Building Bridges

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students apply abstract concepts, such as stress, fulcrums, the law of gravity, and the strength of different geometric shapes. Groups of student contractors operate simulated architectural firms to create strong, economical bridges.
Lesson Plan
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Suspension Bridges: Connecting Lives

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore bridges.  In this bridge lesson, students design and build a suspension bridge after visiting related websites and reviewing famous bridges in non-fiction books.  Students follow the instructions from the...
Lesson Plan
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Building a Bridge

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders discover architecture and functionality by constructing a bridge.  In this bridge engineering lesson, 3rd graders utilize cardboard, straws, towel tubes and plastic bottles to create a model bridge similar to ones seen...
Lesson Plan
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Paper Towel Structure

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Learners investigate technology and its purpose in the workplace. In this geometry lesson plan, students design and build a paper towel structure to investigate motion and forces. They are given a restricted weight and asked to build...
Worksheet
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Spaghetti Bridges: Student Worksheet

For Students 3rd - 4th
Pairs of learners work together in order to simulate how engineers test materials for strength and safety in the real world. They use paper cups and pieces of spaghetti to run strength tests. This excellent worksheet should lead to...
Lesson Plan
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Building Bridges

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students use glue, toothpicks, cardboard, marshmallows and more to build a structure. In this building lesson plan, students budget money to get their materials and make their building in teams.
Lesson Plan
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Cross That Bridge

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers create paper bridges. In this geometry and architecture lesson, groups use legal paper and paper clips to design a bridge that will hold 100 pennies. Links to mini-lessons exploring stability of different geometric...
Lesson Plan
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Functioning as a Team

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students work as a team to build a freestanding bridge from newspapers and masking tape and analyze the effectiveness of their group. In this teamwork lesson, students view and summarize a video on Service Learning Projects. Students...
Lesson Plan
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Spaghetti Bridges: Student Worksheet

For Teachers 5th - 6th
In this math worksheet, students will create a "bridge" out of spaghetti and test it's strength with pennies. Students will record their results on a table and then graph the results.
Lesson Plan
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Building Paper Bridges

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students construct a bridge that can hold 100 pennies. In this math lesson, students evaluate the strength of their bridges. They predict how much weight a bridge can hold based on its design.
Lesson Plan
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Incredible Edible Bridges

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students create a bridge using engineering and geometric concepts. For this geometry lesson, students identify the missing measures of polygons sides and angles. They work together to solve real life situation using problem solving...
Lesson Plan
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Spaghetti Bridges

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students thread a piece of spaghetti through the holes in the cup. One person suspend the cup by placing each index finger approximately one inch in from the ends of the spaghetti.
Lesson Plan
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Bridges

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders use model-building to help comprehend the forces and phenomena at work in the world around them. They describe gravity as a universal force that pulls everything toward the center of the earth. Students distinguish between...
Lesson Plan
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Bridging the Gap

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore the role that bridges play in our society. They conduct an investigation to examine the various shapes and functions of bridges. They determine which type of bridge would best suit a given scenario.
Lesson Plan
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Bridge Building

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders will create model drawings of bridges and integrate technology into the process of creating a visual representation. Technology is used in the industry of design and architecture. This lesson helps to build real life skills.
Lesson Plan
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Spaghetti Bridges

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders experiment with building bridges of spaghetti, pennies, and a cup to determine how varying the number of spagetti pieces affects the strength of the bridge. They graph their results and interpret the data.
Lesson Plan
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Timeline - Curriculum Connections

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers research a timetable for the building of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. After the research is completed, students construct a graph and come up with different proposals for the building of the bridge.
Lesson Plan
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Learning to use and understand a database

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders were given a research paper and they were to answer the questions using the information found on the website. The website was a dictionary where the students would click on the letter to where they would go to find the...
Lesson Plan
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Using Manipulatives to Teach Fractions

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
There is no doubt that learners remember what they have learned when they have a visual representation. Using an egg carton and candy bars, they explore the concept of fractional amounts. By having students cut the egg carton into parts...
Lesson Plan
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Spaghetti Graphs

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Students work in pairs to test the strength of spaghetti strands. They collect and graph data to determine a line of best fit. Students create a linear equation to interpret their data. Based on the data collected, students predict...
Lesson Plan
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Giving it 100%

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students build knowledge about the number relationships between decimals and percents as it relates to converting decimals into percents. In this decimal and percent lesson, students recognize equivalent forms of fractions,...
Lesson Plan
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Built To Last

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers face the challenges of building big, functional structures, like bridges, domes and skyscrapers. They turn their talents to satisfying clients who have hired them to design their new home.