Da Vinci Bridges

Aim This workshop will test students skills in problems solving and determine if they can think on their feet to come up with a solution to a practical problem. Following on from this, students will experiment and create a self supporting Da Vinci bridge out of lollipop sticks

What you need To complete this workshop you will need, per group: Approx. 30 lollipop sticks Sticky tape

What you need To complete this workshop you will need, per group: Approx. 30 lollipop sticks Sticky tape

The challenge Set the students a 25 cm gap (using 2 tables is fine) and ask them to use the materials provided to identify a way that they can bridge the gap with a bridge that is strong enough to hold a 500gram weight. No further knowledge is required, this is an experimental challenge! Students have 15 minutes to complete this.

Congratulations to those who did! Did you pass or fail? Gather the students around and test their design to identify who completed the challenge successfully. Congratulations to those who did!

Now together we will create a self supported, free standing bridge that will successfully bridge this gap

Follow the instructions closely on the following slides Did you know: Many years ago, Leonardo DaVinci made plans for the construction of quick and mobile bridges that could be used to quickly get soldiers over rivers during war time. We will follow these plans to make our own da Vinci bridge from lollipop sticks. Follow the instructions closely on the following slides

Set 4 sticks out like the ones shown below Step 1 Set 4 sticks out like the ones shown below

Add 2 more sticks, under the green and over the blue Step 2 Add 2 more sticks, under the green and over the blue

Place another stick under the 2 yellow sticks Step 3 Place another stick under the 2 yellow sticks

Place 2 more sticks under the orange and over the green Step 4 Place 2 more sticks under the orange and over the green

Rest 2 more sticks so that they are resting on the orange one Step 5 Rest 2 more sticks so that they are resting on the orange one

Step 6 Place a new stick across the bridge, under the yellow and over the blue

Set another stick under the blue ones Step 7 Set another stick under the blue ones

Nearly there, place 2 blue sticks under the green and over the red Step 8 Nearly there, place 2 blue sticks under the green and over the red

Place a another stick horizontally like shown below Step 9 Place a another stick horizontally like shown below

Set an orange stick at the end of your bridge Step 10 Set an orange stick at the end of your bridge

Step 11 For the final step, place 2 yellow sticks under the orange and over the green

Finished Product Test your bridge by placing it over the gap and adding your weight to it

Try building this on a bigger scale Try building this on a bigger scale. You can even use this technique to build a bridge that can hold your own weight if you are confident. Have a go!