Building Toothpick Bridges is a project the 8th grade students completed during their Life Skills Class. It requires skills in math, engineering, and teamwork. Students assume roles of supervisor, architect, carpenter, accountant, and transportation chief in the companies they form. With a budget of $1,550,000 they must purchase land and supplies to design and build a bridge with flat toothpicks in 10 days. (Toothpicks cost $10,000 each!) Bridges are judged on design and strength. Their strength is tested by placing a pencil across the middle of the bridge and hanging weights from the pencil. Weights are placed in a basket suspended from the pencil until the bridge breaks. The last weight held for 30 seconds is the weight recorded for the strength of the bridge.
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Bridge 1  |
Bridge 2  |
Bridge 3  |
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Bridge 4  |
Bridge 5  |
Bridge 6  |
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Bridge 7  |
