In the footsteps of Brunel...

Firstly, we learnt about the man himself, and some his amazing feats - from the Clifton Suspension Bridge to the Box Tunnel. Next, we explored some of the different types of bridges, from classic beam and arch bridges through to cantilever and suspension designs.

Using this knowledge, the children had to create their own design for a bridge that could cover a one-metre gap between tables in the classroom. Then they were randomly put in groups where they had to combine and agree upon a final group design for a bridge.

After a few hours of construction, bridges were judged on the original designs, the collaborative skills of the group, the appearance of the bridge and, most importantly, how functional it was. In order to test it, we drove a toy vehicle across the bridge, adding a further weight with each crossing.