Build a bridge!

This week Māhutonga Matariki took on a new Survivor CHallenge: build a bridge using nothing but newspaper and tape. The task looked simple at first, but we quickly discovered that designing a structure that could actually hold weight required creative thinking, problem-solving, and a fair bit of trial and error. Before building began, the groups discussed what makes a strong structure. Many kids identifoed that folded newspaper (or rolled tubes) worked like beams, and that shapes such as triangles help spread weight more evenly, structures with added piles worked well too. From there, teams got straight into constructing as they only had 20 minutes to get the job done! Each bridge was put under pressure to see how much weight it could hold (in the form of Jenga blocks!). 5 out of 11 teams managed to hold all 63 blocks on their bridges, earning them full points for the leaderboard. Alongside the engineering challenge, we continued our Pos Ed focus on communication and Positive Relationships. The kids practiced clear instructions, active listening, and collaborative decision-making skills. We think they did a fantatsic job of it.