RIC-3531 Primary Science - Book D (Digital)

Bridge Building – 2
Structures – Activity 4
Lesson Focus
Outcomes
Natural and Processed
Materials
2.11 Observes and describes
the characteristics of
common materials.
Indicators
• Uses acquired knowledge
to build bridges using
new materials.
• Investigates the role of
compression and tension
in deciding whether
structures stay up or fall
down.
Skills Focus
• Designs and constructs
• Communicates
• Investigates
• Infers
Background Information
There are a number of ways
to make paper rigid. These
include rolling, folding,
corrugating (like a concertina),
angling and by creating
shapes.
Before the Lesson
Materials Needed
Paper, tape
Preparation
Ensure a sufficient supply of paper. Anything from newspaper to photocopy paper
is suitable, but the paper supplied to the class should all be the same. Organise the
class into small groups.
The Lesson
Stimulus
• Using a single sheet of paper, illustrate the paper’s lack of rigidity by waving it in
the air and trying to get it to stand up vertically, unsupported.
• Discuss with students what can be done with the paper to make it more rigid.
• It is important that students be provided a ‘free-play’ time to get rid of excess
excitement related to the new materials. Students could be asked to make as many
different shapes as they can. Discuss results.
What to Do
• Ask the students to build a bridge similar to Lesson 3 using only tape and paper. To
complete this activity successfully, students will have to explore different ways of
manipulating paper to convert it into rigid shapes.
These include:
(i) rolling
(ii) folding
(iii) corrugating
(iv) angling
(v) creating shapes
This activity is more challenging than using straws and groups should be
encouraged to use their acquired knowledge from previous lessons and to
experiment.
• Have students, in groups, experiment with pieces of paper, trying to make them
more rigid.
• Ask the students to apply knowledge from the previous lessons and the first
activity to build a bridge over a 50-cm gap. Discuss rules as in Lesson Three,
especially focus on the overuse of tape. This can be controlled by supplying a
limited amount of tape to each group.
• As a class, decide on a set of rules that each group must abide by while making the
paper bridge. Display the rules on the board.
• The students build their bridges.
• The students complete the activity sheet, identifying the strengths and weaknesses
of their bridges.
After the Lesson
Answers
Answers will vary.
Additional Activities
• Explore tower and bridge building with different materials.
• Survey bridges in the local community. What method(s) are used to provide
strength and rigidity?
• Investigate the different types of bridges (cantilever, arch, beam, truss, suspension
etc.).
Display Ideas
Display the students’ paper bridges. The students can use a word processor to
type a recount of their investigation. The text can be placed on coloured card and
attached to the wall or folded so that it will stand up next to their creation.
58 PRIMARY SCIENCE ~ R.I.C. Publications ® ~ www.ricpublications.com.au
ISBN 978-1-925660-54-8
©R.I.C. Publications
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