Designing and Building Our Bridges

We all planned and built our own bridges.  

We had to think about what type of bridge we wanted to build, 

and what materials we would need to build it.

We collected our materials and started building.

Bridge Building on PhotoPeach

Check out our designs! 

How many types of bridges can you find?

Our Bridges on PhotoPeach

Bridge Challenge

We had some very clever engineers visit our class.  

They challenged us to build a bridge 

out of 1 piece of paper!

We were allowed to use 

cellotape and staples only.

 

Look at how many blocks our bridges can hold!*

 

 HERE ARE THE WINNERS!!!!!!

We challenge you to build

a stronger bridge!

Slideshows - How to Make a Bridge

We used the kidpix tools 

to create slideshows

showing the stages of building a bridge.

by Alice, Andrew, Alaa and Fe'ofa'aki from Ham East on Vimeo.

by Battool, Bradley, Coco and Connor from Ham East on Vimeo.

by Elvis, Hussain, Kullan and Mele from Ham East on Vimeo.

by Hayat, Niaana, Trinay and Te Kapua from Ham East on Vimeo.

by Jeszmuel, Namrata, Robin, Tui and Tylah-Dawnn from Ham East on Vimeo.

Bridges

Did you know there are many different kinds of bridges?

Our Fairfield bridge is an Arch bridge

We have found out about these bridges

   Arch,                  Beam,                  Suspension

Cantilever,             Drawbridge,                Swing

Use our diagram to help you choose which one is which!!

 

 

 

Did you know that every bridge has ...

an abutment                                              a deck

 piers                                                         a beam

  pillars                                            support girders

and you will find trusses, especially on a Truss bridge!

Our Bridge Walk

As part of our Bridge Unit we went for a walk 

to look at our Hamilton bridges.

Dugan drove us to Fairfield bridge,  

we crossed the bridge and walked all the way back to school!!

I walked on the Fairfield Bridge with Barry. 

I was tired when I walked on the bridge.  

The Fairfield Bridge was bumpy and scary because it was very high.  

I was with my buddy.  I was safe with Barry.  

I saw Room 13 and 14 waving at Room 16 and 15.  

They were standing on the bank.  I got some leaves.  It was wet and crunchy.

by Kelvin

I looked down at the water.  It looked freaky!  

I started to be scared, so I stopped looking down.  

Then I was happy again.  I kept walking until I saw the next bridge.

I went on the very, very old bridge.  When I looked down it looked…

so exciting!  I was very, very excited!  

The old bridge was so old that it had green stuff on it.  

I loved looking down at the river.

by Alice

         

                           

I jumped on the leaves and I picked up a red and yellow leaf. 

I saw a tunnel with water.  

Then I had a little look at it.  

It was cool because it was dark inside.

by Tui

On the way there I counted the bridges.  

When we got off I was excited.  

I got to see the biggest bridge.  

I collected spiky and spotty leaves.  We looked at the silver ferns.  

We were looking and waving at Room 13 and 14.  

We got to see the tree roots.  Trees had fallen down.

by Kullan

       

I walked on the Fairfield Bridge.  

I was scared because I was high and the water was low.  

I thought I was going to fall down but I didn’t. 

I found a leaf.  It was green and it was round and it was bumpy.  

It had veins.

by Alaa

The class walked on the bridge.  It was the Fairfield Bridge.  

The bridge is bumpy.  It has diamond shapes.  The air was freezing.  

It was cold and windy too.  The leaves are falling down.  

The leaf I saw was a circle and long too.  

I found gold and yellow leaves on the trees.

by Namrata 

I was scared because I was up high on the Fairfield bridge.  

I looked down at the river.  

Then I saw the car.  I was walking with Nevaeh’s papa.  

I caught up to Nevaeh’s papa and 

I saw Room 13 and 14 waving to Room 16 and 15.  

Room 14 were on the bank.  

I couldn’t see Room 14’s faces because they were far away.

by Robin

 

I am looking at the bridge.  I look down at the water.  

It is deep.  I don’t like to look down.

by Mele

I was very excited because Totara team went on a bridge trip.  

Totara team saw the river.  I picked up some rocks 

and threw the rocks in the river.  It was very, very, very loud!  

I could hear people talking.

When Totara team walked on the last bridge it was very, very scary.  

When I put my hand on the edge it was scary.  

At last we were at school.  We were very tired, but we had a little rest.

by Battool 

Yay! We made it home.  WHEW!!!