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Description

Youth members will explore basic engineering principles by building miniature bridges and structures using cotton buds as beams and loom bands as connectors. They’ll learn about shapes, stability, and teamwork.

Resources

Cotton buds (lots!)
Loom bands (variety of colours)
Small toy figures or coins (for testing weight)
A ruler or measuring tape
Optional: cardboard base or tray

Instructions

1. Introduction (5–10 mins)
- Briefly explain what bridges do and show pictures of different types (beam, arch, suspension).
- Ask: “What do you think makes a bridge strong?”

2. Build Basic Shapes (10 mins)
- Show how to connect cotton buds using loom bands to form:
- Triangles (strongest)
- Squares
- Hexagons
- Let participants experiment with making shapes.

3. Bridge Challenge (20–30 mins)
Challenge: “Build a bridge that can hold a toy figure or coin!”
Rules:
- Must span at least 20 cm.
- Use only cotton buds and loom bands.
Encourage teamwork if in groups.

4. Test & Improve (10 mins)
- Test each bridge by placing a small object on it.
Discuss:
- What worked well?
- What could make it stronger?

5. Creative Twist (Optional)
- Decorate bridges with colored loom bands.
- Name their bridge and present it to the other teams.

Tags

(none)

Badge Links

• Camp Craft - Pioneering
• Skills - Problem solving
• Teamwork - Challenge