Finding ways to get kids engaged doesn’t have to be hard! Remember the Cup Challenge? This is the equivalent but with popsicle sticks. We call it the “Bridge Building Popsicle Stick Challenge”. A great STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math) activity for students in the classroom or kids at home.
Challenge: Construct a bridge that spans at least 12 inches and hold one action figure (or whatever toy you have in your home).
Bridge Building Supplies:
1. Glue Gun (craft glue would work as well, we wanted fast drying)
2. 40-50 craft sticks
3. ruler
4. cookie sheet or parchment paper to keep it from sticking to other surfaces
If this the first time your child will be using a glue gun? Click here for some tips.
Make Predictions:
Predict what will happen if the bridge cannot handle the weight
Test it Out-
Then test the bridge between two chairs that are about 10 inches apart.
You can either test one item and see if the bridge can hold it OR you can continue to stack items (books, cards, LEGO, blocks) until the bridge breaks.
Our Experience-
We didn’t want our bridges to break, so we slowly added heavier items. Surprisingly they were very sturdy! The bottom picture (above) shows how many books we piled on top of one of them. It was fun to see how two children went at it completely different from one another and still worked!
For more ideas:
Kristen @ Busy Kids Happy Mom
What a great challenge! I love it!
My bloggy friend Darci over at STEM Mom blog has a new STEM linky up today and I’m sure your bridge building would be a big hit. If you’d like to add this, here’s the link: http://www.stemmom.org/2013/01/stem-themed-linky-party-1.html
This comes at a perfect time! I bought a million different sized popsicle sticks, skewers and mini sticks for flower projects I had- but discovered I liked thin wire and green sticks better. I was just thinking of what I could do with all these crazy shaped/lengthed sticks!!!!
Erin D was right, I am LOVING this idea. Its only 6:30 in the morning, and my kid has already asked “What are we doing today Mom?” Its the weekend and I was like, “Um, taking a nap?” Umph….. Anyway, this absolutely perfect and its on our to do list…today. Can’t wait!
Thanks so much for linking up!
Darci the STEM Mom
Great engineering challenge!. Thanks for linking up at Discover & Explore – we’re featuring you this week: http://www.kcedventures.com/blog/materials-for-building-kids-and-construction