Build a Bridge Challenge

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Description

Build a bridge between two points using duplo card and paper which can hold a book


Resources

Duplo Pieces of card Scrap paper Sticky tape Scissors Books to test bridge

Instructions

Before you begin
Cut a few short pieces of sticky tape for each person – it’ll be much quicker if you do this in advance.
Place two supports made from duplo about 15cm apart where everyone can see, this will be the gap that people’s bridges need to cross.
Decide whether you’ll build an example bridge to give everyone some ideas.
Story time
Everyone should sit in a circle. Someone should read Beaver's Bridge by Annabel Rose. This story is about working together and making new friends.
After reading the story, everyone should take some time to reflect on it as a group. We’ve included some questions to help you reflect in the pink box below.
Building bridges
Children divide into nests and then within their nests they can work on their own or in pairs to build their bridge. An adult supports each nest.
The person leading the activity should give everyone some strips of card, a couple of pieces of scrap paper and a few short pieces of sticky tape.
The person leading the activity should show everyone how to build a support from the duplo for the ends of the bridge and explain that everyone will build a bridge between the duplo supports. Give everyone a box of duplo for the supports.
If you’ve built an example bridge, don’t forget to show everyone how it works.
Everyone should build a bridge that they could place across the gap between the duplo supports. They can get creative and choose how to build it either with card taped across duplo or folded, scrunched, or rolled paper as they cups try to make a strong bridge that will hold the weight of a book.
The suspense
Everyone should take it in turns to pick up their bridge and lay it across the duplo supports
The person testing their bridge should slowly place one or two books on their bridge until it falls down.
Everyone should chat about the bridges. Were any really successful? What sort of things made some bridges stronger? They could reinforce their bridge with more duplo supports or card or paper.
Reflection
This activity encouraged everyone to problem solve and be more independent as they came up with their own bridge designs and tried them out.
Beaver's Bridge
Why is it good to try different ways of achieving something?
How did everyone work together to get to the other side of the river?
Building bridges
Was it hard to think of a good idea for a bridge?
Was it fun to make the paper into different shapes and see how they worked?
The suspense
Did people find it exciting to put the books on their bridge?


Tags

  • Building challenge

Badge Links

  • Brilliant Builder - Build
  • Skills - Problem solving
  • Teamwork - Challenge