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In this engineering activity, learners investigate the differences between the strength of bridges made from flat and round building materials. They construct simple bridges out of linguine, which has a rectangular shape, and spaghetti, which has a circular shape. They then test and compare the weight capacity of the bridges.
- Under 5 minutes
- 30 to 45 minutes
- $1 - $5 per group of students
- Ages 8 - 14
- Activity, Experiment/Lab Activity
- English
Quick Guide
Materials List (per group of students)
- 8 Marshmallows
- 18 pieces of raw spaghetti
- 4 pieces of raw linguine (spaghetti and linguine should be the same width)
- 1 paper clip
- 1 envelope and a pair of scissors (to make hanging basket for coins)
- approximately 40 coins
- Paper and pencil to record observations
Subjects
-
Engineering and Technology
-
Engineering
- Architectural Engineering
- Civil Engineering
-
Engineering
-
The Nature of Science
-
The Scientific Process
- Asking Questions
- Conducting Investigations
- Gathering Data
-
The Scientific Process
Informal Categories
- Food and Cooking
Audience
To use this activity, learners need to:
- see
- touch
Learning styles supported:
- Involves teamwork and communication skills
- Uses STEM to solve real-world problems
- Involves hands-on or lab activities