New
New
Year 1

Develop and finish a bridge

I can finish my bridge using a range of materials and decoration techniques.

New
New
Year 1

Develop and finish a bridge

I can finish my bridge using a range of materials and decoration techniques.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Finishing products by decorating them makes them more attractive.
  2. Paint and other materials can be used to decorate bridges.
  3. Paint can be used on wood and cardboard but not on plastic.

Keywords

  • Texture - what something feels like

  • Appearance - what something looks like

  • Unique - something special that is one of its kind

  • Joining techniques - ways to join two things together correctly

Common misconception

All bridges look the same.

All bridges are different. They use different materials, look unique (look different) and made by different designers and engineers.


To help you plan your year 1 design and technology lesson on: Develop and finish a bridge, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Range of photos on the table for children to use to help them with adding detail to their bridges.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Card, paper, scissors, glue sticks, sticky tape, masking tape, paint and painting equipment, decorating materials to finish bridges.

Content guidance

  • Risk assessment required - equipment

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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4 Questions

Q1.
Which of these could you use to join two things together?
Correct answer: glue
scissors
Correct answer: tape
ruler
Q2.
Which of these joining techniques cannot be painted when used to join two things together?
Correct answer: sticky tape
masking tape
PVA glue
Q3.
When should engineers and designers test their bridges?
At the end of the making process.
Correct answer: Throughout the making process.
At the start of the making process.
Q4.
Match these words to their meanings.
Correct Answer:joining techniques,ways to join two things together correctly

ways to join two things together correctly

Correct Answer:building,making something new with different materials

making something new with different materials

Correct Answer:reinforce,to strengthen or support an object or structure

to strengthen or support an object or structure

4 Questions

Q1.
Match the keywords to the correct meaning.
Correct Answer:texture,what something feels like

what something feels like

Correct Answer:appearance,what something looks like

what something looks like

Correct Answer:unique,something special that is one of its kind

something special that is one of its kind

Q2.
When we reinforce a bridge structure, we ...
Correct answer: can make the base wider.
make it taller.
Correct answer: can add extra strength through cardboard.
make it shorter.
Q3.
Which of these are good joining techniques for cardboard?
Correct answer: masking tape
Correct answer: PVA
scissors
Correct answer: sticky tape
Q4.
Which of these words describe a materials appearance?
Correct answer: colourful
rough
Correct answer: shiny

Additional material

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