Building Toothpick Bridges (Math Projects: Grades 5-8)

Recreate a real-life building dilemma in your classroom! A "company" of five to six students has a mission: to build a bridge, within budget, that can hold a required load. The student "architect" and "manager" have to order materials from the warehouse (the teacher) as they work with the student "accountant" who writes the checks and keeps the books. This teaching tool helps students learn responsibility as they exercise thinking and reasoning skills.