BRIDGE BUILDING CHALLENGE
Tech Edby Mr. Atkinson
Your engineering firm has been challenged to design a bridge that spans 16 inches using a maximumof 100 popsicle sticks. Thinking back on what you've learned so far about bridges, begin by exploringconcept ideas through sketching. Submit the sketch you are most happy with to Ms. Gregson or Mr.Atkinson for approval before moving on to the drafting stage. You will need to draft a side, top, andbottom view of your bridge at half-scale.
When the drafting is complete, you will have the opportunity to pair up with a friend and proceed ontothe building stage. No materials other than glue and 100 popsicle sticks are permitted in the bridgeconstruction. However, once your bridge is built, you may decorate it with felts or paint.
Once all of the bridges are finished, we will have a gallery showing of the completed bridges. Thebridges will be self and peer reviewed for aesthetics (how they look). Following the gallery showing, allof the bridge submissions will be tested to see how much weight they can hold!
Points will be awarded based on sketches, design, drafting, effort and craftsmanship/appearance,and ability to bear the most weight. The final mark will be based on peer review, self review andteacher review.
Design should include elements learned in class (truss, triangles, sway bracing...)
Minimum of 3 sketches required
At a Glance
Overview
No materials other than glue and popsicle sticks permitted in final construction
Bridge needs to include a deck so that a 'hot wheels' car can drivefrom one side to the other
Bridge must span 16 inch gap, therefore should be at least 18 inches long
Be creative and have fun!
Drafting must show a front, top and side view at half scale
Steps to Success!
on learning to date. What makes a good
bridge?
reflect sketchyour sketches
show
to Mr. Atkinsonor Ms. Gregson
a minimum of 3 different designs
your chosendesign at 1/2
scale
draftyour drafting to
Mr. Atkinson or Ms.Gregson for
building approval
show buildyour masterpiece(note: glue and
popsicle sticks are theonly allowed
materials)
your finished bridgeoff at the galleryshow of all the
bridges
show test celebrateyour
accomplishments!the strength of
your bridge to seehow much weight
it can hold
Helpful Tips
Peer Review
Do some research on your own before you start. There is tons of info out there!
Triangles are the strongest shape
Think back to edge grain vs. face grain
Sway braces are very handy!
Remember, bridge must span 16 inch gap, therefore should be at least 18 inches long
Trusses are super cool!
Laminated beams are super strong!
APPEARANCE
1 2 3 4
Work is messy.
Doesn't look good(shapes, patterns,
etc. don't look good)
Work is somewhatmessy.
Looks okay(shapes, patterns,
etc. look pretty good)
Work is neat and it isbuilt well.
Looks good.
Overall, an attractivebridge (nice looking
shapes, patterns,etc.)
Work is very carefuland extremely well
built.
Looks veryawesome (amazing
shapes, patterns,etc.)
All construction isclean and attractive.
DESIGN
1 2 3 4
I didn't use anydesign elementslearned in class.
I used 2 designelements learned in
class.
I used 3 designelements learned in
class.
I used 4 or moredesign elementslearned in class.
Self Review
WORK HABITS
1 2 3 4
I did not completethe work.
I didn't put mucheffort put into the
project.
I did not use classtime well.
My work is completebut it lacks finishing
touches or could beimproved with a little
effort.
I did just enough tomeet the
requirements.
I did a good job atcompleting the work.
I worked pretty hardon it.
I could have goneone step further to
achieve excellence.
I completed the workwith excellence.
I worked very hardon it.
I did everything Icould to make thisproject fantastic.
SKETCHES &EXPLORATION
1 2 3 4
Only 0 or 1 sketchsubmitted.
I didn't put muchthought or creativityinto my sketches.
I wasn't open toexploring more than
one idea.
I submitted 2 or moresketches.
I am starting toexplore possible
solutions to buildingproblems.
I had more than oneidea but I did notpursue them.
I wasn't that originalin the ideas I
explored.
I submitted 3sketches.
I thoroughlyexplored ideas.
I challenged myselfto use creative
thinking.
My creativity grewduring project.
I submitted 3 veryhigh qualitysketches.
I thoroughlyexplored many
ideas.
I was willing to trymany solutions andchallenged myself to
be as creative as Ipossibly could be.
I asked excellentquestions.
DRAFTING
1 2 3 4
My bridge designdoes not match the
design of theblueprint.
I did not explainchanges.
My work is messyand the lines are not
clean or straight.
My bridge designsomewhat matches
the design of theblueprint.
If any changes weremade during
building, they wereexplained a little bit.
My work is a little bitmessy.
Bridge blueprintmostly matches the
design of thefinished product.
If any changes weremade during
building, they wereexplained enough.
My work is tidy, linesare square and
parallel.
The bridge blueprintcompletely matches
the design of thefinished product.
If any changes weremade during
building, they werethoroughlyexplained.
My work isextremely careful
and tidy.
CRAFTSMANSHIP&
APPERANCE
1 2 3 4
Work is messy andcraftsmanship
detracts from overallpresentation.
Not aestheticallypleasing (shapes,
patterns, etc.)
Work is somewhatmessy and
craftsmanshipdetracts somewhat
from overallpresentation.
Limited aesthetics(shapes, patterns,
etc.)
Work is neat andcraftsmanship is
solid.
Tidy work most ofthe time.
Visually appealing.
Overall, an attractivebridge (shapes,patterns, etc.)
Work is impeccableand shows extreme
care andthoughtfulness in its
craftsmanship.
Extremely aestheticin design (shapes,
patterns, etc.)
All construction isclean and attractive.
Visually appealing.
Teacher Review
1 2 3 4
SKETCHES &EXPLORATION
1 2 3 4
Only 0 or 1 sketchsubmitted.
Student didn't putmuch thought orcreativity into my
sketches.
Student wasn't opento exploring more
than one idea.
Student submitted 2 ormore sketches.
Student is starting toexplore possible
solutions to buildingproblems.
Student had more thanone idea but did not
pursue them.
Student wasn't thatoriginal in the ideas
explored.
Student submitted 3sketches.
Student thoroughlyexplored ideas.
Student challengedthemselves to usecreative thinking.
Student creativitygrew during project.
Submitted 3 very highquality sketches.
Student thoroughlyexplored many ideas.
Student was willing totry many solutions
and challengedthemselves to be ascreative as I possibly
could be.
Student askedexcellent questions.
DRAFTING
1 2 3 4
My bridge designdoes not match the
design of theblueprint.
I did not explainchanges.
My work is messyand the lines are not
clean or straight.
My bridge designsomewhat matches
the design of theblueprint.
If any changes weremade during
building, they wereexplained a little bit.
My work is a little bitmessy.
Bridge blueprintmostly matches the
design of thefinished product.
If any changes weremade during
building, they wereexplained enough.
My work is tidy, linesare square and
parallel.
The bridge blueprintcompletely matches
the design of thefinished product.
If any changes weremade during
building, they werethoroughlyexplained.
My work isextremely careful
and tidy.
REFLECTION &UNDERSTANDING
1 2 3 4
Student shows littleawareness of theirprocess. The work
does notdemonstrate under-standing of content.
Studentdemonstrates some
self-awareness.Work shows someunderstanding of
content, but studentcannot justify all of
their decisions.
Student shows self-awareness. Work
demonstratesunderstanding ofcontent and most
decisions areconscious and
justified.
Work reflects a deepunderstanding of thecomplexities of the
content. Everydecision is
purposeful andthoughtful.
WEIGHT HELD
1 2 3 4
50-60 LBS 61-70 LBS 71-80 LBS 81-100 LBS
DESIGN
1 2 3 4
Student didn't use anydesign elementslearned in class.
Student used 2 designelements learned in
class.
Student used 3 designelements learned in
class.
Student used 4 or moredesign elementslearned in class.
WORK HABITS
1 2 3 4
Student did notcomplete the work.
Student didn't putmuch effort put into
the project.
Student did not useclass time well.
Work is complete butit lacks finishing touches
or could beimproved with a little
effort.
Student did justenough to meet the
requirements.
Student did a goodjob at completing the
work.
Student workedpretty hard on it.
Student could havegone one step
further to achieveexcellence.
Student completedthe work withexcellence.
Student worked veryhard on it.
Student did everythingthey could to makethis project fantastic.
CRAFTSMANSHIP&
APPERANCE
1 2 3 4
Work is messy andcraftsmanship
detracts from overallpresentation.
Not aestheticallypleasing (shapes,
patterns, etc.)
Work is somewhatmessy and
craftsmanshipdetracts somewhat
from overallpresentation.
Limited aesthetics(shapes, patterns,
etc.)
Work is neat andcraftsmanship is
solid.
Tidy work most ofthe time.
Visually appealing.
Overall, an attractivebridge (shapes,patterns, etc.)
Work is impeccableand shows extreme
care andthoughtfulness in its
craftsmanship.
Extremely aestheticin design (shapes,
patterns, etc.)
All construction isclean and attractive.
Visually appealing.
Peer review average + Self review + Teacher review = Total
brought to you by :
EAGLE MOUNTAINTECH ED
Mr. Atkinson
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