Bridge Build Activity
Using the materials provided, two teams must work together to build a bridge, with each sub-team constructing half the bridge each. Bridge build is an excellent activity for developing communication skills, problem solving, and creative thinking.
During the challenge, teams cannot see each other and must rely on their communication skills to build an identical design. You can use anything for building the bridges.
Some suggestions for materials: newspapers, Lego, toy bricks, straws, paper, cardboard, etc. Other essential resources: tape, paper, pens, tape measure, and canvas or sheet.
Required group size 8 to 16, enough people for at least two sub-teams of four or more.
This is an excellent exercise to use as a lead in to a project workshop or team meeting. It gets teams communicating effectively and listening to each other.
Another skill that can be developed during the task is leadership. You can let this happen naturally within a team or you pick a team leader before the start of the challenge.
Instructions
- Before to the start of the activity, setup the room or area with a divide so teams cannot see what the other team is doing.
- Explain to the group, that they will be split into two sub-teams and must work together to create a complete bridge with each team building half a bridge each.
- They will be separated during the challenge and will only be able to communicate verbally to ensure that each build meets the design specifications.
- Give the team ten minutes to brainstorm and come up with a plan for the design. Then each team has 30 minutes to build their half of the design.
- Once the time is up, remove the division that separates the two teams and see how close each construction was to each other.
The topics of this publication: creativity, collaboration, interactions, cooperation, make agreements, leadership, teamwork, brainstorming
