Bridge Unit Presentations and Field Trip Ideas

This is the culminating project following a 2 part hands-on unit study on Bridges. I am also including the field trips we went on during this unit and fun recipe ideas with a bridge theme. These lessons are geared toward 4th-5th grade level children and their siblings. They were created for a weekly homeschool co-op. We meet each week for 2 1/2 hours and have 33 children between the ages of 1-13. Use these fun lessons with your classroom, family, after school program, camp, or co-op!

Each child/family created a 3-D model of a famous bridge. When presenting on the bridge, each child/family mentioned the name of the bride, its bridge type, geographical location, why it is famous, and one interesting fact about the bridge. Assigned bridges can include:

Ponte Vecchio

Brooklyn Bridge

Golden Gate Bridge

Millau Bridge

Tower Bridge

Hangzhou Bay Bridge

Rialto Bridge

Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge (Pearl Bridge)

Banpo Bridge (Fountain Bridge)

Si-o-se Pol

Sydney Harbour Bridge

Alcantara Bridge

Chengyang Bridge

Chapel Bridge

Great Belt Bridge

Forth Rail Bridge

Magdeburg Water Bridge

Lake Pontchartrain Causeway

Henderson Waves

Oliveira Bridge

Following presentations, have a bridge-themed meal which can include "Beam Bridge" Sub Sandwiches, "Arch Bridge" Chips, "Beam Bridge" Celery & Carrot Sticks, desserts (suspension bridge cake [use red licorice], gingerbread bridge cookies, beam bridge brownies, etc.) and juice served in "bridge pier" cups.

During this unit we drove over multiple bridges and made sure to actually notice their structures. We played at a science center where we were able to build an arch bridge using blocks. We also visited a park that has miniature models of various local bridges.

Build grape and toothpick truss bridges, piece together a play-doh arch bridge, act out the forces involved in bridge building and suspension bridges, paint famous bridges, hold a bridge-building contest, and more in this fun 2 part unit study on bridges!

• Bridge Lesson on Forces, Arch Bridges, & Truss Bridges - This is part 1 of a 2 part hands-on unit study on bridges. Build grape and toothpick truss bridges, piece together a play-doh arch bridge, act out the forces involved in bridge building, and more!
• Bridge Lesson on Suspension, Cantilever, & Cable-Stayed Bridges and Bridge Building Contest - This is part 2 of a 2 part hands-on unit study on bridges. Create and act out cantilever, suspension, & cable-stayed bridges, compete in a bridge-building contest, and more!
• Bridge Unit Presentations and Field Trip Ideas - This is the culminating project following a 2 part hands-on unit study on Bridges. Also included are the field trips we went on during this unit and fun recipe ideas with a bridge theme.

Would you like to teach this way every day?

Konos Curriculum

I use Konos Curriculum as a springboard from which to plan my lessons. It's a wonderful Christian curriculum and was created by moms with active children! This lesson is based on the lessons on bridges from the Determination Unit Study found in Konos Volume III.

Konos Home School Mentor

If you're new to homeschooling or in need of some fresh guidance, I highly recommend Konos' HomeSchoolMentor.com program! Watch videos on-line of what to do each day and how to teach it in this great hands-on format!