Build a Paper Bridge

Help your child create a paper bridge using only newspaper. Try to create a paper bridge that is strong enough for a toy truck to cross over the bridge without it collapsing. Give your child hints on how to make the paper bridge stronger by rolling or folding and layering the newspaper to make it stronger.

Collect the needed materials for the practice: A toy truck (or any other item to symbolize the toy truck), newspaper for building the bridge, and objects of various weight to test how much weight the bridge can hold (e.g. bottles, sticks, stones, coins, marbles, books)

Have children play the truck driver who wants to transport their farm produce to the market across the river.

When your child calls out in Swahili “wasee wasee ('old man!' :))”, respond with “msee msee” ('young one!'). The truck driver will then say “nataka kuvuka ng’ambo ile lakini daraja kaporomoka” ('I want to cross over but the bridge has collapsed'). You should then respond by telling the driver to say the magic word and a bridge will be built for them.

While building the bridge, try putting different objects on the structure (e.g., stones, coins, marbles, books). How much weight can the bridge hold before it collapses?

After the truck has successfully crossed the bridge, talk about the decisions that were made when constructing the bridge. What helped make the bridge stronger? Why?