Invent Boundless Bridges (Spark! Lab Smithsonian)

This kit is a little bit different it doesn't tell you what to build or how to build it! The kit contains 80 large building sticks (15x2 cm) and 80 small building sticks (10x2 cm) (1/2 of each are thick and 1/2 are thin), nylon cord, craft glue, 50 foam connectors, 20 brad connectors, 50 building straws (3 cm each), 40 sticky tabs, black wire, needle threaders, and an inventor's guide. The inventor's guide has pages with grids to aid going through the inventing steps think it, explore it, sketch it, create it, try it, tweak it, and sell it.

On the "Think It" page, your builder answers 3 questions What will the bridge cross over? Who will use the bridge people, cars, or both? How tall and long will it need to be? Your ideas can be endless! "Explore It" is the next step What are bridges made of, and why? How does a bridge stand up? What kind of bridges have you seen that might be useful to your design? "Sketch It" gives you space to sketch out your ideas; and finally, you get to build! Use the pieces in your kit to create what you have sketched. Does it work like you thought it would? This is your chance to "Try It." If it isn't quite like you wanted, now is the time to "Tweak It." Make some changes; make it better. The last step to your invention is to "Sell It." How would you sell a bridge? Talk to others and get ideas for your sales pitch: what would you name your bridge?

The last four pages of the inventor's guide offer helpful tips for building and a few ideas to make it even better. A spark of imagination is all you need to create your unique structure "What will yours look like?" ~ Donna

1CHOKING HAZARD (1). Not <3yrs.