Structure: Bridges

Exploring how bridge designs and materials affect strength and stability through building a wooden truss bridge.

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Lesson plans

Lesson 1: Arch and beam bridges

  • To explore how to reinforce a beam (structure) to improve its strength.

Lesson 2: Spaghetti truss bridges

  • To build a spaghetti truss bridge.

Lesson 3: Building bridges

  • To build a wooden truss bridge.

Lesson 4: Finalising bridges

  • To complete, reinforce and evaluate my truss bridge.

Key skills

Design

  • Designing a stable structure
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Key knowledge

Technical knowledge

To understand:

  • Some different
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Key vocabulary

accuracy

aesthetics

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Related content

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Design and technology

Knowledge organiser – DT Y5: Structures: Bridges

Aimed at pupils, a single page giving key facts and definitions from the unit 'Structures: Bridges.'

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Design and technology

Vocabulary display – D&T Y5: Structures: Bridges

A display version of the vocabulary from the unit 'Structure: Bridges'.

Subject resources

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