Design Thinking Challenge: Pasta Bridges

We started the week by learning about the Golden Gate Bridge, answering many questions they posed last week. Building on our new knowledge of bridges, we read Iggy Peck: Architect, a story about a clever boy who builds a bridge modeled after the Golden Gate Bridge using found objects with his classmates to escape an island. This geared us up to tackle our first design challenge: build a bridge that a boat can fit under and a car can drive over using only dry pasta, tape and rubber bands! They boys amazed us with their creative thinking, teamwork, persistence, and flexibility.  While not all the bridge prototypes were able to meet both criteria of the challenge, the boys all agreed with some more time and design modifications, they could get there.

Take a look at how we launched the challenge here (#17).

Testing an arched lasagne bridge  

Exploring support designs

Bundling angel hair for strength 

Testing our designs!

Testing out different strategies

Team negotiations and strategizing