Will Sabrina Cross the Gorge?
Build and test a small model bridge from craft sticks, string, and tape to see if toy Sabrina can safely cross the gorge.
Step-by-step guide to Will Sabrina Cross the Gorge?
Step 1
Gather all the materials and bring them to a clear table or floor space.
Step 2
Use the ruler to measure and mark a 12 cm gap on the table where the gorge will be.
Step 3
Put the two sturdy books or boxes on the marks so they form the two edges of the gorge.
Step 4
Stack four craft sticks together and tape them along one side to make the first side beam.
Step 5
Stack four more craft sticks and tape them the same way to make the second side beam.
Step 6
Place the two side beams on your table parallel to each other about as wide as your toy Sabrina.
Step 7
Lay three single craft sticks across the two side beams so they are evenly spaced to form the bridge deck.
Step 8
Tape the ends of each cross stick to the side beams so the deck is held firmly in place.
Step 9
Cut two lengths of string about 30 cm each using the scissors.
Step 10
Attach one string along each side of the bridge by taping the string ends to the side beams and to the nearby book edges so the strings are taut as handrails.
Step 11
Lift the finished bridge and rest its ends on the two books so the bridge spans the gap and sits level.
Step 12
Gently place toy Sabrina at one end of the bridge and slowly push her across to test if the bridge holds steady.
Step 13
Share a photo and a short description of your finished bridge and what you learned on DIY.org.
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can I use instead of craft sticks or books if I can't find them?
If you don't have craft sticks use sturdy cardboard strips, folded index cards, or wooden skewers taped side-by-side for the side beams and cross sticks, and replace the two books with stacked shoeboxes or small storage boxes so the bridge can still span the measured 12 cm gap.
Why does the bridge sag or slip when Sabrina crosses and how can I fix it?
If the bridge sags or slips when testing, add extra cross sticks to the deck, double-tape the ends of each cross stick to the side beams, and secure the side beam ends to the book edges with more tape so the deck stays level under Sabrina's weight.
How can I adapt this activity for younger or older children?
For younger children pre-measure the 12 cm gap, pre-stack and tape the four-stick side beams for them to assemble and test with Sabrina, while older kids can increase the gap to 20–30 cm, use glue or hot glue to make permanent joints, and experiment with different beam shapes or added weights to test load capacity.
How can we make the bridge stronger, more creative, or more challenging?
To strengthen and personalize the bridge, decorate the craft sticks with markers or stickers, add triangular trusses by taping extra sticks under the deck, make crisscross string handrails, and then challenge Sabrina to cross while carrying a small coin before posting your photo and description on DIY.org.
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Facts about bridge building and simple engineering
🧪 Engineers perform load testing by adding weight slowly to see how much a model bridge can hold before it breaks.
🌉 People have been building simple bridges from logs and stones for thousands of years — bridge-building is one of the oldest engineering skills.
🪵 Popsicle-stick (craft stick) bridge projects are classic school challenges and can hold many times their own weight when designed well.
🧵 Suspension bridges hang the roadway from cables — you can copy this idea using string to span Sabrina’s gorge!
🏗️ Triangles are the strongest shape for structures — that’s why truss bridges use triangle patterns!
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