Example units · Design

Bridge Building

IB MYPDesignGrades 5–7

Explore the unit · illustrative introduction

Truss bridge
Truss bridgeThe deck spans between supports. It must carry a load across the gap. Illustration by April Zhu and Tolga Cohce. MIT licensed.

The deck spans between supports. It must carry a load across the gap.

In this unit, Grades 5–7 students take on the role of civil engineers to design and build a bridge from wooden sticks that spans a set distance while supporting the most weight possible. Students begin by exploring why bridges fail, studying different bridge types, and learning key design terms. They then create two concept sketches, make decisions about their design, and build their bridge following a process log. After testing their structure, students use a bridge simulator to explore how different designs perform and apply feedback to upgrade their original concept, learning what makes bridges structurally strong.

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What students do

  • Think24%
  • Write17%
  • Read16%
  • Explore & simulate15%
  • Make & document13%
  • Check understanding11%
  • Hand in4%

IB MYP criteria

  • AInquiring and Analysing
  • BDeveloping Ideas
  • CCreating the Solution
  • DEvaluating

Tools students use

The green ones are free to try now — no account.

The lessons

  1. A paper cut-out man looking through a magnifying glass at sticky notes of questions

    Discover

    Find out what's really going on.

  2. 1. Launch — Become a Civil Engineer

    6 activities

    1. Tacoma Bridge CollapseRead
    2. Tacoma Narrows: Why Bridges FailWatch your teacher show the Tacoma Narrows collapse.Explore & simulate
    3. Find examples of famous bridges you know ofUpload 3–5 images (take a screenshot or save to your computer then upload here).Think
    4. Design Terms: Quick CheckAnswer each question.Check understanding
    5. Decode the Bridge BriefSort each fragment from the unit brief into the correct category.Check understanding
    6. Restate the Challenge (Individual)In your own words, write one or two sentences that answer both of these questions: What must your bridge do?Write

  3. 2. Research Bridge Types

    10 activities

    1. Types of BridgesRead
    2. What types of bridges exist?Find examples of the 3 types of bridges (beam, arch, or truss).Think
    3. Beam vs Truss: Live Force DemoBefore dragging the load slider, predict in your head: which members do you think will be stretched (tension) and which will be squeezed (compression)?Explore & simulate
    4. What Makes a Bridge Strong?Read each card carefully.Read
    5. Bridge Vocabulary SortSort each word or phrase into the correct column: Forces, Structure, or Design Process.Check understanding
    6. Bridge builderBuild a bridge across the 40-unit gap for Small truck, then test it.Try the Bridge building simulator free ↗Explore & simulate
    7. Jigsaw Research: Bridge TypesStep 1 — Choose your bridge type.Write
    8. Labelled Bridge Diagram UploadOn paper, draw a clear diagram of your bridge type (beam, arch, or truss).Make & document
    9. Research Findings RecordAnswer each question about your bridge type.Write
    10. Forces & Bridge Types: CheckAnswer each question.Check understanding
  4. A paper cut-out man with a rainbow moustache holding a giant pencil

    Ideate

    Lots of ideas first. Pick one after.

  5. 3. Design your Bridge

    Assessment

    8 activities

    1. Your taskWhat you're making You are designing and planning a bridge — moving through individual ideation, team decision-making, and scaled technical drawing before …Read
    2. Step 1Individual concept sketches: Fold one sheet of A4 paper in half.Read
    3. Step 2Annotate your sketches: On each sketch, add clear annotations that include: dimensions (measurements) materials to be used how joints are made/connected …Read
    4. Step 3: Upload your 2 concept sketchesUpload your 2 concept sketches hereMake & document
    5. Decision matrixOpen the decision matrix (provided).Think
    6. Sentence builderUsing the fragments below, construct your team's two-sentence justification: Sentence 1 — name your chosen design and the single criterion it scored highest on.Check understanding
    7. How this is markedRead
    8. Hand it inHand in
  6. A paper cut-out girl holding a clear phone mock-up over a sketchbook

    Prototype

    Make it real, roughly, then properly.

  7. 4. Build Your Bridge

    Assessment

    4 activities

    1. Your taskWhat you're making You will design and build a bridge using only the provided materials, then document the entire process — from first ideas through to your …Read
    2. Process logLog what you made today — a photo and what you did.Make & document
    3. How this is markedRead
    4. Hand it inHand in
  8. A paper cut-out woman timing a cardboard car down a ramp with a stopwatch

    Test

    Try it. Find what breaks. Fix it.

  9. 5. Test your bridge

    Assessment

    7 activities

    1. Your taskWhat you're making This is the final testing and reflection stage of your bridge project.Read
    2. How Much Weight?Write down the max amount of weight your bridge could carry.Write
    3. Question stepsLook at the bar chart showing all the class bridges' load results.Write
    4. Image annotateUpload a clear photo of your tested bridge.Make & document
    5. Written answerWrite a plan for your next bridge that: Names the specific part that failed on your bridge and explains why it broke first (reference your annotated photo) …Write
    6. How this is markedRead
    7. Hand it inHand in
  10. A paper cut-out woman calling through a megaphone, paper speech bubbles flying out

    Share

    Show what changed, and why.

  11. 6. Checkpoint 1

    Checkpoint

    No activity detail for this lesson.

  12. A paper cut-out woman timing a cardboard car down a ramp with a stopwatch

    Test

    Try it. Find what breaks. Fix it.

  13. 7. Bridge Simulator 2

    1 activity

    1. Bridge builderBuild a bridge across the 60-unit gap for Delivery truck, then test it.Try the Bridge building simulator free ↗Explore & simulate

  14. 8. Bridge Simulator 3

    1 activity

    1. Bridge builderBuild a bridge across the 80-unit gap for Loaded truck, then test it.Try the Bridge building simulator free ↗Explore & simulate

  15. 9. Bridge Simulator 4

    1 activity

    1. Bridge builderBuild a bridge across the 40-unit gap for Test load, then test it.Try the Bridge building simulator free ↗Explore & simulate
  16. A paper cut-out man with a rainbow moustache holding a giant pencil

    Ideate

    Lots of ideas first. Pick one after.

  17. 10. Upgrade Bridge Simulator

    5 activities

    1. Example sortRead each observation card from the bridge simulator.Try the Bridge building simulator free ↗Check understanding
    2. Three principles for strong design suggestionsStudy the three cards below.Read
    3. Thinking tool: Feedback Capture GridOpen the feedback grid and fill in each section based on your simulator experience: Likes — what did the simulator do well?Try the Feedback Capture Grid free ↗Think
    4. Find a visual style you likeUpload 3–5 images from cartoons, computer games, etc. For each, write one sentence about what caught your eye.Think
    5. Draw and colour your design idea.iPad or markers ok. Take a photo and upload it here.Think

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Students work through each lesson with the thinking tools built in, and build a portfolio as they go.

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