How to Build a Bridge for a School Project
Whether your child is working on a project for a science fair or a model for art class, building a bridge can be a simple task. Using everyday home items such as Popsicle sticks and toilet paper rolls, your child will have the tools to build life like bridges for all school projects. You will need a pack of popsicle sticks (amount depends on how large of a bridge you are building), two toilet paper rolls (again depending on how large of a bridge you are building these numbers can change), glue, metallic silver acrylic paint or brown and black acrylic paint, and a paint brush.
The first step in building a bridge is making sure that you have a clear surface on your desk. Begin by taking out 30 Popsicle sticks. Place 10 of these Popsicle sticks on the side. With the other 20 Popsicle sticks, start creating pairs. Using glue to stick the edges of the Popsicle sticks together, lengthwise. By the end of this you should have 10 single Popsicle sticks and 10 doubles of 2 Popsicle sticks.
The second step is to lay out your Popsicle sticks vertically in this pattern: one alone, two together. Start with a single Popsicle stick on the far left, and then place a double of Popsicle sticks (one popsicles sticks length) away from the first. Then again return to one Popsicle stick and then a double. Continue in this pattern till you have a long line of vertical Popsicle sticks lined up.
Using more popsicle sticks from your supply, begin connecting the lined up popsicle sticks by lining up 3 popsicle sticks horizontally, connecting the vertical single popsicle stick to the vertical double popsicle stick. Repeat this step until this is complete for all of the Popsicle sticks and they are all connected, creating the base of the bridge.
Now that the base of the bridge is complete you will need to use something to hold up the bridge. Using two toilet paper rolls, place them under the two ends of the bridge base. Then glue the edges together so that the ends of the bridge base are glued to the top of the toilet paper rolls. Once the base has been glued to its toilet paper beams, it is time to paint the bridge and give it the finishing touch. For a steel look use the metallic silver acrylic paint or for a wooden look use the brush to stain black and brown paint to give it a wooden texture.
