Volunteer Joyce Hudson’s Bridge Building Experiment for 3rd Graders at DC’s Payne Elementary

EXPERIMENT 1

OBJECTIVE:

Build a structure that can support the most possible weight.

MATERIALS:

• Wooden Clothespins
• Binder Clips –3/4 inch wide
• Colored Jumbo Craft Sticks – 6 inches long
• Books

PROCEDURE:

Have children break out into teams of 3-4 and challenge them to build structures that support weight. They will use the binder clips to attach the clothespins and craft sticks to build supports for books. Two clothespins with a craft stick between them make great supports for a structure. The more books supported, the better. Try using triangles in the design (since triangles are a stronger shape).

VOCABULARY:

 Support, engineering, structure

WHAT THEY LEARN:Explore with different ways to build supporting structures. What types of structures are more stable? Also a great activity for hand-eye coordination.