Science Experiment:
Bridge Building Contest Description

Introduction:

This is a science experiment report of a Bridge Building Contest held at Wacihk Education Complex in Pakwaw Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada. The school is operated by the Shoal Lake Cree First Nations band.

The Challenge:

To build the largest bridge possible using school textbooks.

Materials:

• school textbooks
• meter sticks
• audiovisual carts

Method:

1. The school was searched for all of the spare textbooks that could be borrowed or found. The search area included other classrooms, the school library and a storage room for school supplies.
2. Two audiovisual carts were used to transport the textbooks that were collected to the Science Laboratory.
3. One class at a time was given the challenge of building the largest bridge possible following the rules.
4. Students were permitted to work alone, in groups, or as an entire class to build their bridge(s).
5. Meter sticks were used to measure the width and height of the largest arch under the bridges.
6. After all of the classes had an opportunity to build their bridges, the two audiovisual carts were used to transport the textbooks back to the rooms and shelves from where they had been borrowed.

Rules:

1. Only school textbooks could be used to build the bridge.
2. The school textbooks must remain closed and be used like construction building bricks.
3. Two measurements would be used to determine the largest bridge.
   • The width of the arch that a person could crawl through under the bridge.
   • The height of the arch that a person could crawl through under the bridge.

Observations:

Students from grades nine to twelve participated in the Bridge Building Contest. Our school is small so we only have one class per grade. Class sizes ranged from seven to eighteen students attending on the day of the Bridge Building Contest.

Each class started out working as one large group trying to build one large bridge per class.

All classes started out piling the books in single stack columns that varied from the height of their torso to the height of the classroom ceiling.

Gradually students stopped participating in creating vertical piles of books and began to ponder the problem of how to build an arch to span horizontal space. It was at this point that some students moved away from the main class group and began working alone or in small groups.

Results:

The grade 10 class were the first to try the Bridge Building Contest. They built a number of successful bridges.

The grade 11 class knew how big a bridge the grade 10 class had built. The grade 11 class tried to build a bigger bridge. Unfortunately, their bridge collapsed before it was completed. Fortunately, there were no physical injuries suffered in the disaster. Only a few egos were bruised.

It was discovered that the students in the grade 9 class were sitting in their room studiously doing their textbook assignments without a teacher being present. In a friendly offer of generosity they were invited to come to the Science Laboratory and participate in the much more interesting challenge of building a bridge out of school textbooks. The grade 9 class did not have as much time as the other classes, but they moved quickly and were well on their way towards building the largest bridge by the end of the class period. Suddenly their next teacher arrived! With instinctive skill that would make any sheep dog envious, the teacher chased the grade 9 students back to their classroom. So ended the grade 9 students' opportunity to participate in the greatest high school science and technology challenge of the year.

The grade 12 class was the last group to try building a bridge out of school textbooks. They knew the results the other classes had achieved and were determined to do much better. They started by stacking six piles of books in a two by three rectangular grid. They then began work building an arch over the open space. Much to the Science teacher's surprise, they were getting their inspiration from some of the world's largest churches. With the skill of ancient craftsmen they began building large circular arched roofs held up by pillars. This was more than just a simple bridge. It was a magnificent building that they were determined to build.

When lunch time arrived the grade 12 students successfully negotiated a request with their teacher to complete their masterpiece after lunch.

Shortly after everyone had left the Science Laboratory - but while the Science teacher was still on hallway dismissal duty - a loud thunderous noise came rumbling down the hallway. It shook the school! The science teacher immediately ran to a hallway window looking into the Science Laboratory. He was the first to see the disaster! The grade 12 monument had collapsed! In a domino fashion it had knocked down all six pillars. The pile of rubble was knee high across a large section of the classroom.

When the grade 12 students arrived back after lunch they viewed the mess with horror. After a brief discussion of the situation they decided to throw in the towel for this competition and get back to studying for their upcoming provincial final exams.

View the Bridge Building Contest Photographs

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