Bridge Curriculum
See the links below for presentations, videos, and activities. All presentations, videos, and activities are for educational use only. Special thanks to Lunda Construction and the Missouri Department of Transportation for their help in creating this content.
How Bridges Work
Presentation - Introduces how bridges support load, different bridge types, and how bridges are designed
Activity - Build a bridge out of gumdrops and toothpicks
Video - ~20 min video of presentation
Teacher notes - Timing and possible discussion questions
How Concrete Sets
Presentation - Introduces what concrete is made of, how it is mixed, how it is placed and how it hardens and becomes strong
Video - ~12 min video of presentation
Activity - Making concrete art
Teacher notes - Timing, helpful hints, and discussion questions
How Bridges are Constructed
Presentation - Discusses who builds a bridges and how the I-70 bridge in Missouri was built
Video - ~12 min video of presentation
How Bridges Work
Presentation - How bridges support load, the math and science behind bridges, bridge types, and bridge design
Video - ~24 min video of presentation
Activity - Build a bridge out of soda straws and tape
Teacher notes - Timings and discussion questions
Bridge Terminology and Design
Presentation - Describe the different parts of a bridge, how bridges are designed with a look at past bridge failures
Video - ~22 min video of presentation
Activity - Understand how a gusset plate can lead to a bridge failure
Teacher notes - Timings, suggestions for activity, and discussion questions
How Bridges are Constructed
Presentation - Discuss who builds a bridge, the construction process and challenges, and see how the I-70 bridge in Missouri was built
Video - ~14 min video of presentation
How Bridges Work
Presentation - How calculus and physics help us design a brides, different bridge types
Video - ~16 min video of presentation
Activity - Design a bridge on a computer (can also use middle school activity)
Concrete Mix Design and Hydration
Presentation - Details on how to design a concrete mix and the hydration reaction that makes concrete strong
Video - ~23 min video of presentation
Activity - Design and test your own concrete mix
Teacher notes - timings, helpful notes, discussion questions
Geometric Design of Roads
Presentation - Introduces geometric design and how it helps determine where a road goes
Video - ~19 min video of presentation
Activity - Use google Earth pro to design horizontal and vertical curves for a road
Files needed for activity - Site Location Example Path
Teacher notes - Timings, and discussion questions
River Hydraulics and Scour
Presentation - River morphology and how scour affects bridges
Video - ~11 min video of presentation
Activity - Build your own stream table and evaluate scour
Teacher notes - timings, helpful notes, discussion questions
Steel Plate Girders
Presentation - Covers how steel plate girders are designed and resist loads
Video - ~10 min video of presentation
Activity - Build and test your own paper plate girder
Teacher notes - timings, helpful notes, discussion questions
Bridge Foundations
Presentation - How soil is classified and how foundations are designed for bridges
Video - ~17 min video of presentation
Activity - Evaluate soil strength with your own mini experiment
Teacher notes - timings, helpful notes, discussion questions
Bridge Expansion Joints
Presentation - Show how thermal movements in a bridge occur and are accommodated by expansion joints
Video - ~13 min video of presentation
Activity - Evaluate differential thermal expansion
Teacher notes - timings, helpful notes, discussion questions