TIP: Using a blueprint introduces something unique to a STEM Challenge. You have to try this in your STEM class! Just hand out some graph paper and watch. What if they had to create a blueprint of the bridge and then build it exactly like the blueprint? I decided to try something new with the next class. The first class tried the plastic bins and just built their bridges. This method developed after we tried using the plastic bins. Can you see that the team doubled the number of toothpicks that joined each set of marshmallows? Clever! After a few minutes of this, I had each group share a method they found that worked well. I found it very helpful to have each group try joining the marshmallows with toothpicks just as an experiment. TIP: If you try this bridge, be sure you allow an exploring time with the students. This turned out to be futile! They wanted to make those support legs under the bridge to help hold it up! Of course, they did! My thinking was that the students would have to work hard to make the bridge work and I wanted them to concentrate on creating the bridge- not spending time making legs. My original thinking about this bridge made with toothpicks was that the students could not make a support leg underneath the bridge. They will harden overnight and be just right for making something. TIP: Open your bag of marshmallows the day before you plan to use them. This is ideal for making hot chocolate, but not so good with bridges. Now to the dilemma of using marshmallows! If you buy the name brand kind of marshmallow you are likely to find that the marshmallows are very fresh. Each team had their own spot to try their bridge. Tissue boxes! I had plenty of those! I set up two boxes on each lab table and taped them in place. You can see what we used in the photo above. I decided to try something lightweight and movable (at least more movable than my 9 foot long tables)! Pushing two tables close together is the answer, but my tables are very heavy. I wanted an opening that would be 5-6 inches because I did not think these bridges could be very long. The first time we tried a bridge I wasn’t sure what to use as the “span” section for the structure.
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