Jan. 10, 2007: Bridges
The Mini Page is a syndicated,
four-page tabloid written for young children found each Wednesday in the
Rocky Mountain News. This issue of The Mini Page is available through
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Activities:
1. Have a bridge-building contest
with your friends. Collect miniature marshmallows, toothpicks, uncooked
spaghetti, cardboard and rubber bands. Use these materials to create different
bridges.
- Who can build the tallest bridge?
- Who can build the longest bridge?
- Whose bridge can hold a toy car? Several toy cars?
- Draw pictures of your bridges.
2. Look in the hardware store
ads of the newspaper for at least five examples of tools or materials
that someone might use to construct a small bridge. For example, you might
find saws, hammers, lumber, nails, etc. List the items on a piece of paper.
Next to each item, write a sentence telling how it could be used to build
a bridge.
3. Find a bridge near where
you live or travel. Draw a picture of your bridge. Now write a short paragraph
describing your bridge. Include this information in your paragraph: What
type of bridge is your bridge? Why is that design good for the location?
4. Which type of bridge do
you think is best in each of these locations: (a) across a small stream,
(b) across a deep canyon between two tall mountains, (b) across a shallow
canyon between two hills, and (d) across water in a river to connect two
islands? Explain why your selections would work best.
5. Use resource books and the
Internet to learn more about common bridges such as trestle bridges or
pontoon bridges. Use these questions to guide your research: Where is
this type of bridge used most frequently? What are its advantages? How
difficult is the bridge to construct? Write a paragraph about the bridge
you investigate.
This week's standards:
- Students understand science and technology.
- Students understand the abilities of technological design. (Science: Science and Technology)
(standards by Dr. Sherrye D. Garrett, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi)
