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
DiscoverE

Build a Bridge

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Cost overruns are unacceptable—in the real world and in an engaging activity. Groups of pupils get together to build a bridge out of straws, paper cups, and tape. They keep track of costs ($1,000 for each material) and must stay within a...
Lesson Plan
Cornell University

The Physics of Bridges

For Students 9th - 12th
Stability is key when building a bridge. Scholars explore the forces acting upon bridges through an analysis of Newton's Laws and Hooke's Law. The activity asks individuals to apply their learning by building a bridge of their own.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

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
Curated OER

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
Curated OER

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
Curated OER

Build and Test a Paper Bridge

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate making strong structures from paper. In this paper bridge activity, students experiment making bridges out of paper. Students fold paper many different ways to test its strength. Students discuss what they tried and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Building Bridges

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Provide a comprehensive exploration of bridges and civil engineering. First, learners discuss the different types of bridges. Then, they identify the characteristics of a suspension, beam, and arch type of bridge. In addition, they learn...
Lesson Plan
Cornell University

Bridge Building

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Bridge the gaps in your knowledge of bridges. Individuals learn about bridge types by building models. The activity introduces beam bridges, arch bridges, truss bridges, and suspension bridges.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

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
Curated OER

Paper Suspension Bridges: You Want Me To Go Up There?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
A few class periods will be required to complete this physics investigation with your high schoolers. There is an unavailable video written into the lesson plan, but there is plenty of material here to bridge the gap. Two terrific...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduce Vocabulary: Cross a Bridge (Hunter)

For Teachers K - 3rd
What does suspension mean? Learn this and other bridge-related vocabulary as scholars listen to Ryan Ann Hunter's nonfiction book, Cross a Bridge. This strategy can be applied to any book. Before reading, acquaint pupils...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Building a Bridge

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students design a bridge. In this science lesson, students research different types of bridges and create a bridge using marshmallows, toothpicks and construction paper.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Suspension Bridge

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students view a video clip about suspension bridges. They discover what forces support this type of bridge. They build their own suspension bridge using classroom materials.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Many Kinds of Bridges

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners examine how there are many elements that need to be considered before building a bridge. Groups are given materials and they are to make a structure that can hold an object in suspension.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bridge Construction

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students build a model of a bridge and test the amount of weight it support. They identify different types of bridges: suspension, arch, girder, truss, cantilever, cable-stayed and moveable.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

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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Curated OER

Allowing Students to Explore Simple Physics and Marketing in English Class

For Teachers 9th Standards
Scientific method, linear measurements, friction, inertia. Imagine learning scientific vocabulary in an ELA class. Before researching and developing a presentation about simple machines, class members build a common, but decidedly...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

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
Curated OER

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
Berkeley Engineering and Mentors

Bridges

For Teachers 4th - 6th
This engineering activity gets youngsters working together to design and construct a bridge. Each bridge is tested in front of the class to discover how much weight it can hold before showing any change in form. The lesson plan does not...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pasta Bridges

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students analyze the correct use of technology as it relates to math and science. In this science lesson, students investigate force and weight as it relates to building an object. They build a bridge and draw conclusion based on the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

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.