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Bridge Academy Students Win 1st Place in National Toothpick Bridge Contest

Two Bridge Academy students have won the Teacher’s Discovery 3^rd Annual Toothpick Bridge contest. Using only toothpicks and household glue, the challenge was to build the longest unsupported span that can hold three, full 12 oz. soda cans.

Bridge Academy students Justin Oquendo of Trenton and Keith Snyder of Robbinsville won the first place prize. Their winning bridge model had an unsupported span of 14.5”.  Over 50 other schools submitted bridges to the national contest.

Bridge Academy science teachers Kathleen Sommers and Kathryn Wink used the contest to challenge their students in their Integrated Science classes which were studying Material Science, focusing on how strong things are. Working in pairs, Bridge students submitted 14 toothpick bridges to the contest.

The students first did prep lessons using different shapes with toothpicks: triangles, diamonds, squares.  Then they took those shapes and tested practice spans.  Students had to design their span on paper then follow the design to build one span side. Then they had to recreate a second span to match the first.  Finally they designed the deck and built it.  Once the two spans and deck were completed, the students assembled them to make the bridge. Ms. Sommers said assembling the deck and the two spans was the most difficult aspect of the project.

“All the students worked so well together.  After developing their initial design, each group had to build, problem solve, and compromise in order to create the final bridge. I’m thrilled that two of our students won first place,” said Ms. Sommers.

As first place winners, The Bridge Academy will receive $1,000 of science materials for the classroom from Teacher’s Discovery Corporation.

The Bridge Academy is a state-approved private school for students with language-based learning disabilities. 

Bridge Academy students Justin Oquendo of Trenton and Keith Snyder of Robbinsville won first place for creating the longest toothpick bridge to support 3 full cans of soda in the Teacher’s Discovery contest.