Geometry students are eagerly anticipating the end of the Bridge Project when the strength of their group’s bridge is tested. Each bridge, constructed with wooden coffee stirrers, must hold thirty pounds of weight in order for the students in the group to achieve the maximum grade. The contest is not only about the grade, but it is also about pride in their group’s bridge and the competition for their bridge to hold the most weight in their class.
Each bridge group forms a company with each group member taking on the role of either architect, accountant, carpenter, or project manager. The students learn what it is like to work “on the job” by trying to achieve a common goal within the rules and building codes of the project. Architects study designs and bridge building codes to choose the strongest design to withstand the forces of compression and tension. Accountants learn to make payments, complete order forms and balance sheets, pay taxes, and deal with the economics of daily price fluctuations. Carpenters prepare the land for construction, and build the bridges according to the architect’s plans. The project manager keeps everyone on task and journals the daily progress of their company. Ultimately, this project is designed to allow students to realize the value of classroom applications to real-world projects.
