This week we are completing our unit on bridges. We have read about bridges, looked at photos of famous bridges, painted bridges, and studied different materials that were used for our bridges. We began by looking at bridges in our area and discussed how a new bridge is being built right now!

Brooklyn Bridge

George Washington Bridge with the Little Red Lighthouse

Tappan Zee Bridge

We read many books about bridges, including The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge, seen here:

And 21 Elephants, seen here:

After discussing these bridges, we read the story Iggy Peck Architect by Andrea Beatty.

We talked about how we could design our own bridge. What could we use to build it? How could we make it strong? How big could we make it? We explored different kinds of wood, paper, and fabric to determine what would be the best material to use. We practiced copying some famous bridges and buildings in our block center, and using Legos, K’Nex, and other building materials.

And then we were ready to construct our own bridges! We learned that building bridges were not as easy as we thought! We had to change our thinking and our designs as we worked. We had to try out different materials. Some of our bridges even fell over, but we learned that determination and hard work pays off. We didn’t give up and we were able to create some very creative bridges!

This project was a great way to talk about mindset with the students.

Mindset is a simple idea discovered by world-renowned Stanford University psychologist Carol Dweck in decades of research on achievement and success—a simple idea that makes all the difference.

In a fixed mindset, people believe their basic qualities, like their intelligence or talent, are simply fixed traits. They spend their time documenting their intelligence or talent instead of developing them. They also believe that talent alone creates success—without effort. They’re wrong.

In a growth mindset, people believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work—brains and talent are just the starting point. This view creates a love of learning and a resilience that is essential for great accomplishment. Virtually all great people have had these qualities.

Teaching a growth mindset creates motivation and productivity in the worlds of business, education, and sports. It enhances relationships. We learn about and talk about the the value in hard work and determination, problem solving and creativity.

Learn more about a growth mindset with Carol Dweck: