Stem Challenge Easy Bridge Easy Prep Project Based Activity

Leo Migdal

-Dec 11, 2025, 1:35 AM

stem challenge easy bridge easy prep project based activity

Here’s another easy prep and easy materials STEM challenge that will be the most fun in your STEM class ever! It’s a bridge-building activity that gives students a choice of the style of bridge they want to try. The best news is: there are only two materials! That’s right! Two materials! You will need supplies in addition to this package.

This includes straws, masking tape, string, small containers, and pennies (or weights). This challenge will need 1-2 class sessions to complete. ➡️ Click here to save 20% on this STEM Challenge in a 3-pack bundle! ➡️ Click here to save 20% on this STEM Challenge in a 6-pack bundle! We see bridges and drive, and walk, over them all the time. However, we typically don’t spend a lot of time thinking about how they are built or how they can hold so much weight.

However, there is a lot of planning, engineering and science that goes into bridge building. Encourage kids to look at the bridges around them in a whole new way, by building their own with these 10 Easy Bridge Building STEM Challenges for Kids. My favorite part of doing STEM challenges with my kids, and students, is watching as they build and create. I have done countless STEM challenges in the classroom over the years, and without exception, the children have always come up with ideas and solutions that I would never have thought of. Their creativity always amazes me. Children create without preconceived ideas of what a bridge or other structure should look like.

With STEM challenges, they problem solve as they experiment and learn that if something doesn’t work, it’s not a failure, but rather a learning opportunity. As STEM challenges are becoming more and more common and encouraged in schools, it makes me very happy and excited to for our future when I see what children create. I’m sure many of you have had a bridge building project come home from school or perhaps you remember building a bridge when you were in school. It’s a common STEM challenge because it is meaningful and there is so much learning that comes from it. Introducing the free Bridge Building STEM Challenge! This engaging STEM challenge is perfect for sparking creativity, engineering skills, and teamwork in the classroom and at home.

Best of all, grab the free printable mini-pack that includes everything you need to get started. Getting started with our Bridge Building STEM Challenge is easy and fun. Here are some useful tips: Gather Materials: Use common, inexpensive materials such as popsicle sticks, straws, string, tape, cardboard, and glue. The printable STEM supplies list includes these. Explain the Types of Bridges: Introduce different types of bridges.

Use the information sheet from the printable pack to explain how each type works and where they are commonly used. Design Phase: Let the kids sketch their bridge designs on the journal pages. Encourage them to think about which type of bridge will be most vital and why. Ever tried building a bridge using just straws and tape? It’s a fun and creative way to dive into the world of STEM with your family or friends. Here are some exciting ideas to get you started on your engineering adventure.

Use drinking straws and tape to create a lightweight bridge. I once managed to span a foot of space with just a handful of straws, and it was surprisingly strong! Add a splash of color by building a rainbow-themed bridge with colored paper or craft sticks. It’s a visual treat and a functional wonder! Use building blocks to create a bridge over a ‘stream’ made of blue paper. The first time I tried this with kids, the variety of designs they came up with was astounding.

Grab some craft sticks and glue, and challenge yourself to build a strong bridge that can hold coins. I remember the first time I did this; watching the sticks form a sturdy structure was like magic! Kids love building. Give them any collection of materials and allow their imagination to run wild. It’s always exciting to see what they come up with. Encourage this creativity using simple, familiar materials.

For this STEM activity, bring out the Lego! This Build a Bridge STEM Challenge can be set up in minutes and then your child’s imagination and problem solving skills do the rest! This STEM challenge is part of 10 Exciting STEM Activities where you gather just ten simple materials and you’re then ready to do ten different, hands-on STEM challenges. This build a bridge STEM challenge also includes a printable activity card so that you can give children the instructions/challenge and let them do the rest. You can also prepare bags, or kits, with all of the materials and the activity card to give children to work on the challenge at their own time, and pace. They make great educational gifts as well.

This bridge building challenge can be done inside or outside with just one or two materials. If you’re looking for more bridge building ideas, check out this popular collection of 10 Easy Bridge building STEM Challenges. With this challenge, children of varying ages will attempt to create a bridge, using only Lego blocks, that reaches over a ‘lake’. Young children will work to create a bridge that is stable enough to reach across the water. Older children may create a more complicated bridge that includes some design elements or even raises and lowers. We started our path into stem challenges with a bridge design.

My background in physics is not as strong as biology and chemistry so I turned to every teacher’s favorite resource, google. I found the bridge activities online incomplete. If you haven’t started stem challenges yet, you can read some tips on using engineering design process to develop your own. You might not be ready to tackle creating your own right off the bat (to be honest it is a time-intensive process). I have a free straw bridge stem challenge ready for you to download and print. This strongest bridge design challenge includes background information, a 5E lesson outline, a list of middle school standards, and student information sheets.

The bridge design cheat sheet is for the kids to use during the activity as a reference. A completed teacher key, a partially completed table, and a fill in the blank option are available. Adapt it to meet your needs. I suggest working through the online challenge next. This is a fun way to really put that new knowledge of bridges into action. Have you ever marvelled at the sheer engineering genius of a majestic bridge, spanning vast rivers or deep canyons, effortlessly connecting one point to another?

From the iconic Golden Gate Bridge to a simple pedestrian walkway, these structures are testaments to human ingenuity, problem-solving, and the fascinating world of engineering. What if we told you that your child could tap into that same sense of wonder and build their own incredible structures right at home or in the classroom? Building a bridge is more than just a fun craft; it's a quintessential build a bridge STEM activity that brings science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to life in a tangible, exciting way. This comprehensive guide will explore why bridge building is such a powerful educational tool, delve into the core engineering principles involved, and provide age-appropriate challenges, practical tips, and innovative ideas to spark your child's... We'll show you how these hands-on projects foster critical thinking, creativity, and resilience, all while creating unforgettable family memories. Get ready to embark on a structural adventure that bridges the gap between abstract concepts and real-world application!

Imagine the sheer delight on a child's face as their carefully constructed bridge, made from everyday materials, successfully holds a surprisingly heavy load. That moment of triumph isn't just about building something; it's about understanding why it worked. It’s about experiencing the thrill of a hypothesis tested, a problem solved, and a design brought to life. In a world increasingly driven by screens, finding engaging, hands-on activities that truly ignite a child's curiosity is more important than ever. Bridge building STEM challenges offer precisely this kind of enriching, screen-free "edutainment." They are not just about reaching an outcome, but about embracing the process of discovery, iteration, and learning from every attempt. At I'm the Chef Too!, our mission is to blend food, STEM, and the arts into one-of-a-kind experiences that do just that – spark curiosity and creativity in children, facilitate family bonding, and provide...

This post will serve as your ultimate resource for designing and executing successful bridge building activities, from understanding the foundational science to troubleshooting common challenges, ensuring that every experience is a constructive step forward... STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. A truly effective STEM activity weaves these disciplines together, demonstrating their interconnectedness in solving real-world problems. Bridge building perfectly encapsulates this integration: You will love the simple materials used in this challenge! The marshmallow bridges are not very long but will test the patience and diligence of students as they work to finish this successfully.

And, they will! Great cheering will happen when a bridge spans the gap and holds a little bit of weight! The design challenge lesson contained in this package is a bridge-building experience. Students will use toothpicks and marshmallows to construct a bridge. They will test the strength of their final designs by adding weights to the structures. You will need supplies in addition to this package.

This includes toothpicks, marshmallows, paper plates or bowls, and weights (like pennies). You will need to prepare materials for students and copy the lab sheets. STEM Challenges are a super way to engage students! Designing and working together will be fun- try it! Your students will love it! ➡️ Click here to save 20% on this STEM resource and 2 additional bridge building activities.

Stem Challenge Easy Bridge Easy Prep Project Based Activity

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