Students in Mrs. Valentine’s and Miss Wooding’s classroom wrapped up the story of Pop’s Bridge from their Journeys Reading Series with a STEM activity involving bridge building. For this project, students incorporated the 4 c's of 21st century learning: collaboration, creative thinking, critical thinking, and communication.
Students worked with partners to research types of bridges to determine what geometric shape is the strongest and would give them the most structurally sound design.
Students designed and constructed bridges using clay, popsicle sticks, string, tape, and toothpicks. Their bridges were tested using bags of rocks to represent the Three Billy Goats Gruff. Students worked collaboratively and cheered on the team of students whose bridge withstood the weight of the Billy Goats Gruff, and showed empathy to the team of students whose bridge did not withstand the weight of the Billy Goats Gruff.