how to play

Divide the children into groups of 2–3. Begin with a story, such as engineers needing to design a strong bridge for villagers to cross a river using only limited materials like paper, to spark their imagination. Provide each group with sheets of paper, tape, and small weights (like coins or erasers) to test their bridges. Explain that their challenge is to build the strongest bridge possible by folding, rolling, or layering the paper in creative ways. Encourage them to experiment with shapes and designs—flat bridges, folded beams, or layered supports—to see which makes the bridge stronger. If they struggle, give hints such as: What happens if you fold the paper like a fan? How does rolling paper into tubes make it stronger? Once their bridges are built, test them by placing small weights one at a time until the bridge collapses. Children then reflect on which designs worked best, learning about strength, balance, and creative engineering through play.

Questions to be asked

1. Does using thicker (more number) paper affect how much weight the bridge can hold?
2. Why do you think some bridges fall down when you put weight on them, but others stay up?
3. Does the height of the bridge affect the stability of a bridge?