Today we are looking at bridges. We’ve all been over them in a car, and you may have even walked over a bridge. Bridges are a common thing in today’s world. They make transportation faster and easier. But even just a hundred and fifty years bridges were very rare and many people didn’t trust them. They thought they were dangerous and wouldn’t use them. Oh such bridge that caused a lot of controversy was the Brooklyn Bridge which was built in 1869. Let’s start by reading a picture book Twenty One Elephants and Still Standing which was based on a true story. After the Brooklyn Bridge was built, people were afraid to use it. They thought it wouldn’t hold the weight and would crash into the river. B.T. Barnum came up with a way to prove to people that the bridge was safe. (Story for all ages).
Let’s take a closer look at how the Brooklyn Bridge was built. (Grades 3++)
Now that we’ve learned about one of the most famous bridges in America, let’s take a look at what makes bridge so strong. (All ages)
Resources to learn more about bridges:
Sesame Street: Engineering a Bridge Click the title to access the website. For Preschool-1st grade
Facts about Bridges for Kids by Easy Science for Kids Click the title to access the website. For 2nd grade and above.
Building Big: Bridges by PBS Click the title to access the website. For 4th grade and above.
Experiment Time: Time to Build a Bridge
Now that you’ve learned the history of a pretty amazing bridge and about several different kinds of bridges, it’s now time to build your own bridge. For your bridge you will be using LEGOs. Materials: LEGOs, paper, markers/crayons