Bridges
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I know what bridges are used for and can spot some important features in their design.
Key learning points
- Bridges are built for different purposes.
- Bridges are built and designed by engineers.
- Bridges have different shapes within their structure.
- Sketching helps us to spot details and features.
Keywords
Engineer - a person who designs and builds things
Bridge - a structure that helps people to cross something, such as water, railway or another road
Structure - a structure is something that is made for a purpose, something that is formed and holds its shape
Stable - something is in place and will not fall over
Strong - something that is strong is harder wearing, will not break as easily
Common misconception
Bridges are only found over water.
There are different types of bridges, some carry people (footbridge), others allow vehicles to cross over water, roads or railways, some bridges carry trains and others carry boats (aqueduct).
Teacher tip
Children should look at a range of photographs of bridges and ideally look at local bridges too. When teachers model sketching skills, encourage children to use a light pencil stroke for the outline, adding detail by focusing on small areas of the sketch at a time.
Equipment
Range of bridge pictures (including local bridge photos / visit a local bridge), worksheet, pencils, crayons.
Content guidance
Risk assessment required - equipment
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
4 Questions
Q1.What is this?
Q2.Which of these might you use to cut shapes in paper?
Q3.True or false? We can use glue to join paper together.
Q4.What does the word build mean?
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.True or false? A structure is the person who designs and makes bridges.
Q2.Match these words to their meaning.
the structure of an object is how it is formed
something that is strong is harder wearing, will not break as easily
something is in place and will not fall over
Q3.Bridges are built for different uses.
Q4.What are the important features of a bridge?
To help you plan your 1 design and technology lesson on: Bridges, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 1 design and technology lesson on: Bridges, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 1 design and technology lessons from the Frame structures: bridges unit, dive into the full primary design and technology curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.