It took more than 50 pounds to break the strongest bridge today at Ecole publique Lionel-Gauthier.
The structures were put together this month by teams of Grade 5 students at the Timmins school after a visit from one of the members of the Professional Engineers of Ontario Porcupine Kapuskasing Chapter.
“They’re allowed a maximum of 200 popsicle sticks per team, they use one bottle of white glue, they use one pair of scissors, and then paint, stickers, whatever they want to do,” said Tony Linton, the treasurer of the local chapter.
Another rule is that they can’t bring the project home, so it’s all the kids own ideas going into the design.
Once all the bridges were finished, Linton and Katelin Dzijacky stopped by the school to measure how much weight each one was able to bear.
The winning team – Marcel, Maxime, Christopher and Brandon — is heading to the Dante Club later this week for the chapter’s annual dinner to mark National Engineering Month.
The bridge competition is open to any school that wants to participate. Linton said Lionel-Gauthier has “absolutely great” in putting together an event every year.
While the kids have fun getting creative and watching the bridges ultimately break, Linton said it’s also a great way to promote the profession.
“That’s the whole thrust behind it is to get kids interested in engineering to start with and show them how much fun it is, and what we can offer the public as a result,” he said.
No matter what design the students come up with, he said it’s good for them to see and test their work.
“I love seeing the anticipation on their faces as the bridges are breaking.”
