No.235
Build a Paper Bridge
Japanese name: 紙の橋づくり
Materials
- One sheet of drawing paper per group
- Two boxes of the same height per group
- About ten small building blocks of equal weight
- A ruler
How to play
- Place two boxes about 15 cm apart and lay the paper across them. Use the same box heights, gap and number of available paper sheets for every group.
- Gently add blocks one at a time to the paper's centre. Stop when the paper falls or its centre touches the table below and can no longer hold the load. Record the number it held immediately before that failure.
- Remove the paper and discuss ways to strengthen it, such as folding its edges or making accordion folds. First change only the folds, without cutting or adding reinforcing materials.
- Retest with the same blocks in the same position, adding them one by one. Do not hold the bridge with your hands. Compare the number supported before it failed.
- Finish after about two improvements. Share one successful fold and an idea about why it worked. Put away the boxes and blocks together.
Ways to adapt
Younger primary school children: a shorter bridge. Older primary school children: record the fold width.