P6 and P7 really enjoyed learning about bridges as part of their WAU programme. They had opportunities to research the topic and are able to identify famous landmark bridges as the Ponte Vecchio in Florence and the Golden Gate in San Francisco.
They learned about the different types of bridges and the characteristics and special features of the various types. The children looked at the materials used in bridge building from the earliest stone bridges to the more modern bridges like the Zhangjiajie Bridge in China which is constructed entirely of reinforced glass.
Their teacher then challenged the class to work in small groups to design and build a bridge made of newspaper that would support at weight of at least 1kg. The class explored techniques in folding, twisting and layering that they could use to strengthen sheets of paper to create a a paper bridge. Their teacher was delighted at some of the children’s innovative ideas.
