We have been given the task of having a math, science, technology family night for our 1st and second graders. We have decided to use toothpicks as our main material. To keep things grade approriate we thought we would have basic bridge building using toothpicks inserted into gumdrops for one station. Another station we thought of using was estimating how many toothpicks were in a jar. I am hoping for suggestions from you for stations, and ideas on how to organize the different stations.
2007-02-21 12:29:55 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
Ive built a few bridges for classes out of toothpicks. The gum drops are a good idea, but they add alot of weight to longer bridges, but I doubt 1st and 2nd graders will build some of our monster bridges. We built them to span a short distance and a height of several inches. The bridges were loaded at the center slowly to see how much weight they could take. The most weight won.
We've also built skyscrapers the same way. They can get pretty high if you have enough support in the base.
2007-02-21 16:24:39 · answer #1 · answered by oneman c 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why not a "wire frame" model of a solid object? A cube would be easy. Onward to geodesic domes. Give them a jillion gumdrops and a jillion toothpicks and a picture of something and see what they do. You get to clean up. BTW, you are planting the seedlings of future engineers. Thanks...
2007-02-21 20:52:47 · answer #2 · answered by ZORCH 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Use fast-drying cement 'stead of gumdrops.
When I was a kid I built a dodecahedron using "airplane modeling cement".
2007-02-25 03:18:58 · answer #3 · answered by charly 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋