YEAR 9:

DESIGN &
TECHNOLOGY
P R O J E C T- B R I D G E
(5 LESSONS)
BRIDGE DESIGN: Over the next two weeks, you will be
completing this project- each task is designed to
AN INTRODUCTION take 1 hour, and there are 5 tasks to complete.

The basis of the project is this- you are being asked to

design and create a bridge, which will be designed and
made in the style of one of the researched bridge types.

Main Task – search for the key words

in bold researching until you
For each task, you will be able
understand what they mean. Write to stretch and challenge yourself:
down your own definitions/
explanations. ● Task is an entry level task
●● Task is slightly more
challenging
https://science.howstuffworks.com/engineering/civil/bridge1.htm ●●● Task is the super spicy
stretch and challenge!
Here is a handy web link
HOW DO I SUBMIT MY
WORK?
• Each ‘lesson’, you should complete the work on the appropriate slide.
So, on lesson 1 of the project, you will complete Task 1(marked Lesson 1
also on the slide).
• Complete your work in a separate document- a word document, a power
point document, on paper (your choice).
• After lesson 5, when the full project is complete, upload it to yourshared
OneDrive folder. Make sure your name is in the document title.
• Feedback will be left on SMHW by the teacher following submission
• If you have any questions during the project, you can contact your
relevant DT teacher in the following ways:
 Via UHS email (dbuckley6@uhs.org.uk, rweller1@uhs.org.uk,
tstewart@uhs.org.uk)
 On Microsoft Teams (download the Sharepoint app to use it on your
phone)
 ● Challenge 1 – evaluate two of the

TASK 1: RESEARCH bridge types deciding which one is best

adapted to a cardboard model

TASK: search for the key words in bold researching until you ●● Challenge 2 – evaluate the four
understand what they mean. Write down your own definitions/ bridge types deciding which one is best
explanations. adapted to a cardboard model
There are a number of different bridge
designs these include: ●●● Challenge 3 – make some equally
Suspension
sized beams; an I beam, a box section and
Arch
Cantilever a round tube and see which one is
LESSON 1

Truss strongest – test them for bending and

twisting - then decide how you could use
Some key terms/words that it is worth finding these in your bridge.
out about in the context of bridges are:
Compression 
Think about: what Tension 
type of forces and Bending 
stresses are placed Strut 
on bridges. Also Tie 
what shapes can Triangulation 
create the strongest
Torsion 
structure
Beams (also find out what a neutral axis is)
 TASK 2: PLANNING Task (FOR EVERYONE)

• Write out some bullet points that

TASK: To Plan the approach you will need to design and make highlight what possible bridge
a bridge…there are two approaches you can take… type/structure most interests you and
why.
We already have shown some research on bridge types and some of
• Choose the materials you may have
the forces that will act on them.
(This is the most advantageous way) you can research into bridges, learn access to at home (don’t forget about
about them and then design one, thinking about the different styles and recycling).
LESSON 2

materials you have access to – this should be better than one you just
make. • Record some of the steps you will
need to start to manufacture your
An alternative is using some of your previous design and practical bridge (production plan)
modelling knowledge. You can check to see if you have enough cereal
boxes and you could just start making and experimenting until it is
strong enough – but check back through your research on some of the
structures and forces.

Consider skill level-

choose a structure you
https://www.instructables.com/id/Simple-Suspension-Bridge-Model/ can manage and that
shows off your modelling
Here is a handy web link skills!
 ● Challenge 1 – draw your 4 designs

TASK 3: IDEAS using a suitable 3D technique

●● Challenge 2 – draw your designs in
TASK: draw 4 possible bridge designs then annotate and isometric.
evaluate them deciding which one is likely to be the strongest. ●●● Challenge 3 – develop the most
promising idea so that version 2 is
Sketch and annotate some ideas 4 should be enough. stronger than version 1. Explain the
Evaluate them by thinking about……  improvements you have made.
• How you can make them from your cereal box?
Tips for a great time time plan
LESSON 3

• Will you have enough card?

• Use suitable rendering and shading
• Where will the sugar or cans be placed – is it wide techniques, try to reference actual
enough? materials textures and aesthetics.

• How many joints will you need?  and how will you • Annotate each idea, explaining its
make the joints strong? These are usually weak advantages and disadvantages and the
points and will use up your sellotape limit (max 2m) forces acting on it.
• Analyse your designs and see if you can identify any
parts of your bridges that are wasting card because
they aren’t bearing any load?
 TASK 4: MAKE AND TEST
RULES FOR COMPETITION
The cereal box should be a 750 gram one with total card
dimensions of approximately 55cm by 25cm

If you don't have a cereal

box exactly like this at
25 home – don't worry just
use the closest thing you
can find – any card will
be fine.
55
• A maximum of 2 meters of sellotape should be used – this should not
be more than 25mm wide. You should not use any other type of
stronger tape. No glue/staples or other methods of joining are allowed
• All weights must be placed in the middle of the bridge
• The bridge must be a single span design – no supports in between the
tins
• The bridge may be sellotaped to the tin but only using the 2m of tape
allowed
 Challenge – after testing your bridge

TASK 4: MAKE AND TEST evaluate your design and then with what
you have learnt go back and design an
even better one.  The more weight your
TASK 2: Testing - once you have
TASK 1: Make your bridge –
made your bridge place two food tins
second bridge holds the better your
before you start, however, plan test/evaluate/design loop has been.
40cm apart on a flat surface (a table
and mark out your card to make
or the floor) and place your bridge on
sure you have enough for the
top adding the weights in the middle. 
whole of your bridge.
You may want to start with something Stretch and challenge:
less heavy than a 400g tin!
Make a video of your bridge being tested, or use
Now, you need to test your design, If your bridge your phone to create a time lapse.
holds the weight – well done! Destructive testing is something very common in
LESSON 4

If it holds it without bending more than 1cm – even testing designs and materials!
better Please check with a parent
Keep adding weights and see how much it can hold or carer before you start
– stop when it bends more than 1cm. that you can use the
materials and make the
Work out the total weight it held and take a photo of bridge
your bridge whilst it is holding its maximum load.  And also that they are Span to test between bridge sides
Paste the photo with the maximum weight into your happy to let you test it with
other objects/weights. 40cm
shared OneDrive document - I'll share everyone's
results so you can see who's made the best one.

No cheating – e.g. empty tins!

Most food items have the weight on the packages - tins in various sizes are good as they won’t get damaged too easily if they fall or your bridge collapses, plus they can be
stacked on top of each other. 
If you have some kitchen scales then it's a good idea to weigh the items you are using as the weight on the tin is the contents only e.g. a 400g tin actually weighs 462g.
 ● Challenge 1

TASK 5: EVALUATION Evaluate your design/model on power point or word,

including the below:
 WWW/EBI
TASK: To Present & Evaluate your final bridge design and  Skills you have shown in the bridge design
results  What would you would change next time

Success Criteria: Your evaluation will…
 Include a WWW (pick out the positives in your research, ideas and
final outcome)
 Include an EBI (some of the weaker areas of your work, and how
LESSON 5
●● Challenge 2
Evaluate your design/model on power point or word,
including the below:
 WWW/EBI
 Skills you have shown in the bridge design
 What would you would change next time
 Presentation of the ideas and model

they could be improved)  Weight held

 Evaluate your individual sections of your project (Research, Ideas
and practical).
Top tips on a good evaluation:
Include photos of your bridge to support the points you make in
your evaluation
Read your work back afterwards to check your SPAG! If
completing work on a computer, you can use the spell check
function to help
●●● Challenge 3
Evaluate your design/model on power point or word,
including the below:
 WWW/EBI
 Skills you have shown in the bridge design
 What would you would change next time
 Presentation of the ideas and model
 Weight held
 Feedback from a family member
 What could you add to the design to make hold
more weight e.g: cables/string, more card, different
type of card, straws, more tape etc.