The Art of Bridge Building
Grade 3-5

Students will dive into the Engineering Design Process as they explore different types of bridges, how they’re built, and the materials that make them strong. Through hands-on challenges—such as testing which shapes are strongest, discovering how much weight a paper bridge can hold, or building a bridge from popsicle sticks and clothespins—students will apply real engineering principles in fun, creative ways.

Using K’Nex building sets, students will design, build, and test a variety of bridge structures. Age-appropriate read-aloud books from YouTube may be used to support the learning. On occasion, students may also watch a short educational video (no longer than 10 minutes) demonstrating how bridges are constructed. These clips spark discussion about weight, structure, shape, and durability.

This class encourages curiosity, teamwork, and problem-solving as students plan, build, and refine their own bridge designs.