 A four-session course was held for twelve students from a gifted-and-talented class at Meeker Elementary School in Greeley, Colorado. The children are in third through fifth grades. The somewhat more
mature-looking male student in the back row is actually our own Tom
Caldwell, a vice-president of HBG Constructors. Tom visited the class for a
couple of days to share his extensive knowledge and expertise in bridge
construction.The first session was an introduction to different types of bridges and basic engineering principles. Students then designed and built their bridges in the second and third classes. Each two-person team was given eighteen feet of 1/8" square balsa wood and white glue with which to construct their bridge. (See the two pictures just below.) For the last session, the students went to Ames Community College to have their structures tested to failure. The strongest bridge was able to carry a load of sixty-eight pounds. (See the two pictures at the very bottom of this page.) Click on any of the pictures below to see a larger version.
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