This week, our 4th Class became engineers in training as we learned all about bridges during Geography and STEM. We explored how bridges are designed, what makes them strong, and the fascinating physics behind how they carry weight and stay standing.
We learned about several types of bridges, including:
-
Beam bridges, the simplest kind, supported by strong beams underneath.
-
Arch bridges, which use curved shapes to spread weight evenly.
-
Truss bridges, built from triangles for extra strength.
-
Suspension bridges, where cables hold the roadway in place.
After studying the science and design of famous bridges around the world, Mr. Wilson set us a special challenge — to build our own bridges using LEGO that could span a “chasm of chairs!”
Working in pairs, the girls planned their designs carefully before constructing their bridges. Once built, each team had to test the strength of their bridge by placing a weight on top to see how much it could hold. Sometimes, the results surprised us — a few bridges we thought were strong collapsed quickly, while others we doubted turned out to be incredibly sturdy!
There was incredible creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving on display — and even a few groups who went the extra mile by adding string to create suspension-style bridges, showing great innovation and understanding of the topic.
It was a day full of learning, laughter, and engineering excitement — and our classroom looked like a true STEM laboratory by the end. We may have some future architects and bridge builders among us!
