Sixth Grade Math Students Build Learning Bridges

The sixth grade math classes were recently challenged to use their engineering skills to construct bridges using only 3x5 index cards and staples. Working in teams, their goal was to design an economical bridge with adequate structural integrity and an aesthetically pleasing appearance. This was no easy task, as students had to comply with a 40 minute deadline to complete their project. The final requirement was to make sure the bridge platform was 15 centimeters off the ground. One of the engineers on each team was responsible for tallying the materials and total cost of the bridge. All team members were involved in the planning and construction of the design. A \"test site\" was provided in the classroom to see how many bricks each bridge would support before collapsing. The students (and teacher) were intensely engaged as each brick was gently placed on the bridge platform. As we counted, we waited in suspense to see if the bridge would hold with each additional brick. One bridge held all twelve bricks, although the height of the platform was slightly less than 15 centimeters. There were points awarded for each criterion, and five teams achieved a perfect score of 20! Congratualtions to all sixth grade engineers on their efforts and accomplishments with Learning Bridges!