Building a Da Vinci Bridge: A Hands-On Engineering Adventure

This week, our Year 6 class embarked on an exciting engineering journey by constructing miniature versions of Leonardo da Vinci's famous self-supporting bridge using popsicle sticks. The lesson began with a brief introduction to the life and works of Leonardo da Vinci, highlighting his contributions to both art and engineering. We explored the innovative design of his self-supporting bridge, a structure that requires no nails, ropes, or glue to stay intact. 

To bring da Vinci's ingenious design to life, we examined several photos of the bridge and discussed its unique properties, such as its ability to distribute weight evenly and maintain stability through interlocking parts. The students were fascinated to learn how such a simple yet clever construction method could create a strong and durable bridge. 

Armed with this knowledge, the students eagerly got to work. Each student received a set of popsicle sticks and step-by-step instructions on how to assemble their own mini version of the da Vinci bridge. Through this hands-on activity, students experimented with balance, tension, and the principles of physics that make the bridge design work. They collaborated, problem-solved, and refined their models until they successfully created their bridges. 

Learning Goal:

The goal of this activity was for students to understand the principles of balance and tension in bridge construction and to apply critical thinking and teamwork skills in a practical setting. By the end of the session, students not only deepened their knowledge of historical engineering marvels but also learned how to apply these concepts to solve real-world challenges.