With just play dough and wooden blocks, can you create a bridge that can hold a weight? This Best Build a Bridge STEM Activity challenges children to create a bridge using simple materials. Whether you’re looking to challenge children at home, or in the classroom, this simple activity is a great learning opportunity for kids of all ages.

STEM based activities are a great way to develop essential skills in science, technology, engineering and math. These hands-on challenges tend to be engaging and provide many learning opportunities. They can be done in the classroom or even at home.

STEM challenges tend to be open ended with a focus on the process over the end result. This Best Build a Bridge STEM Activity, encourages lots of problem solving, creative thinking and a growth mindset. Children learn to keep trying even even when their plans do not go the way they hope.

I have done countless STEM activities in my classroom and with my children at home over the years. Kids are always excited for the activity and I love seeing the learning that happens each time.

For more STEM activities, check out 9 Best Bridge Building STEM Challenge, 10 Easy Bridge Building Activities, and another Build a Bridge STEM Challenge.

Build a Bridge STEM Activity Materials

Since I do many of these STEM activities with large groups of children, I try to use simple materials that I already have on hand. For this activity you will need:

• Wooden Building Blocks
• Play Dough
• Free Activity Card (Optional)

For the building blocks, you can use virtually any that you have. From rectangular shaped blocks to cubes to even popsicle sticks. Any simple block type materials will work.

The more blocks and dough that you can provide children with the more detailed the building will become. If children run out of materials, they tend to stop building.

However, if you are doing the activity with older children, limiting the supplies can increase the challenge, by making kids more mindful of how their limited supplies are used.

The activity card can be downloaded at the bottom of this post, for free. You can print it and post it at a center for children to visit and do independently.

Build a Bridge STEM Activity Solutions

Once you have all of your materials collected, you’re ready to start the challenge. Give children the materials and tell them that their challenge is to:

“Use the materials to create a bridge that can hold weight.”

Avoid giving too much direction or too many suggestions before children start building. However, a few rules to set for kids while creating may include:

• Children can only use the two materials supplied.
• The blocks used for the bridge must not touch the table in the middle. (There has to be a gap below the arch.)
• You can set a time limit, or let children build as long as they wish.

For more STEM ideas, check out a huge collection of 45+ STEM Challenge ideas and 60 Best STEM Activities, from science to math and everything in between.

Once all rules have been set, allow children to begin creating!

It’s always interesting to watch all of the different solutions children come up with. Often no two creations will be the same. Children will hopefully try various different types of designs before they find one that works.

As children build, remind them that their bridge will likely break or fall down a few times during the building process. That’s okay. Build again, but use the parts that worked the first time to make it even better.

Testing the Bridge

Once children have created a bridge that they are happy with and think will hold a weight, you can start testing it.

You don’t have to test the bridges, but it is a great way to extend the activity, and the learning. It is also an easy way to integrate math into the STEM activity, by measuring how many of the weights they can add or how much weight (grams etc.) it can hold.

Use small weights or objects and set them on the bridge. If the bridge holds, add more weight. See which design is able to hold the most weight. Have children think about what makes this design the best.

If you are doing this build a bridge STEM activity with a group of children, having them build and test during the design process is a great way to encourage children to keep improving their creation.

If a child’s bridge falls when a weight is set on top, have them figure out what they need to change so that it can support a weight. Redesign their bridge and have them try again. If children are able to create a bridge using the materials that some weight can be set on without collapsing, then the project can be considered successful!

STEM Challenge Extension Ideas

There are a few alternative ways this challenge can be done.

If you don’t have wooden blocks, popsicle sticks can also be used. These tend to be more plentiful in classroom, and will work for this activity. Using popsicle sticks can also make the challenge easier and can be a better alternative for younger children.

The activity also works well as a kit for children to take home. Print the activity card and place it, along with blocks and play dough in a sealable bag. This STEM kit can then be given to a child to take home to play and create virtually anywhere. I like creating these kits to send home over summer, or winter holidays to keep the learning happening

Download the FREE STEM Activity Card

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