Find an Engineering Solution
Design and build a simple bridge from craft sticks, string, and glue to hold small weights. Test and improve your engineering solution.
About this activity
Design and build a simple bridge from craft sticks, string, and glue to hold small weights. Test and improve your engineering solution.
What you need
Step by step
- 1
Step 1
Gather all the materials and bring them to a clear workspace.
- 2
Step 2
Draw a simple bridge picture showing where the deck supports and string will go.
- 3
Step 3
Make two support towers by stacking four craft sticks for the left side and four craft sticks for the right side.
- 4
Step 4
Put glue between the sticks in each stack to stick the support towers together.
- 5
Step 5
Wait about 10 minutes for the glued support towers to set.
- 6
Step 6
Lay six to eight craft sticks side by side to form the bridge deck shape.
- 7
Step 7
Put glue between the deck sticks to join them into one flat deck piece.
- 8
Step 8
Wait about 10 minutes for the glued deck to set.
- 9
Step 9
Glue each support tower to the underside ends of the deck where you drew them.
- 10
Step 10
Tie a piece of string between the tops of the two supports and knot it securely.
- 11
Step 11
Let the whole bridge dry completely for at least 30 minutes.
- 12
Step 12
Test the bridge by placing one small weight at the center of the deck and watching what happens.
- 13
Step 13
If the deck bends, glue one extra craft stick lengthwise under the center of the deck to reinforce it.
- 14
Step 14
Re-test by adding small weights one at a time until the bridge holds enough or shows where it needs more strength.
- 15
Step 15
Share your finished bridge and what you learned on DIY.org.
Fun facts
How do I design and build a simple craft-stick bridge that holds small weights?
Start by defining the load target and sketching a bridge design (beam, truss, or arch). Build a strong deck from glued craft sticks, add truss or beam supports on the sides and cross-braces for stability. Use string as suspension or to hold components under tension. Let glue fully dry before testing, then add small weights gradually to the center. Observe where it fails, strengthen weak spots, and retest until it meets your goal. Supervise children with hot glue or scissors.
What materials do I need to build a craft-stick bridge?
You'll need craft (popsicle) sticks, strong glue (wood glue or low-temperature hot glue with adult use), and string or thin twine. Gather small test weights (coins, washers, or small toy figures), scissors, tape, ruler, pencil and paper for sketches, and a tray or container to add weights. Optional: clamps or clothespins to hold glued parts while drying, sandpaper to smooth edges, and colored markers for decoration.
What ages is this craft-stick bridge activity suitable for?
This activity suits ages 5–12 with adjustments. Ages 5–7 enjoy simple beam bridges with adult help using non-toxic glue and scissors. Ages 8–10 can design basic trusses, measure spans, and test loads with supervision for glue and tools. Ages 11+ can experiment with complex truss patterns, tensioned string, and iterative improvements, recording results. Always supervise younger children and any use of hot glue, sharp scissors, or heavy test weights.
What are the benefits of building and testing a craft-stick bridge?
Building a craft-stick bridge teaches engineering thinking: planning, measuring, and testing. Kids learn load distribution, tension and compression, problem-solving through trial-and-error, and design iteration. It builds fine motor skills, patience, teamwork, and communication when done together. Recording results helps basic data skills. The activity builds confidence by showing how small changes improve performance, making STEM concepts tangible and fun for children.
Watch & Learn
Need help?
What can we use if we don't have craft sticks or string?
If you don't have craft sticks, use sturdy cardboard or rolled-up paper tubes for the support towers and deck, and substitute yarn or fishing line for the string to tie between the support tops.
My support towers or deck keep coming apart — how can I fix them while following the glue and drying steps?
If the towers or deck come apart during steps 4–8, add more glue between the craft sticks, press firmly and hold the stacks with clothespins or lightweight clamps while waiting the 10-minute set time.
How can I change the activity for younger kids or make it more challenging for older kids?
For younger children, have an adult pre-stack and glue the four-stick support towers and help knot the string and test weights, while older kids can design longer spans, vary the number of deck sticks, and record how much weight the bridge holds during testing.
How can we improve or personalize our bridge after the basic build and the suggested reinforcement?
To enhance the bridge, paint and decorate the deck, add glue-backed triangular trusses from extra craft sticks along the sides, and reinforce the center by gluing an extra stick lengthwise under the deck as in step 12 before re-testing weights.