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Directions to Build a Bridge Using Toothpicks

Building a model version of a bridge can be an entertaining pastime, or it can make for an educational project that demonstrates concepts such as tension and compression. Simple household items like toothpicks make for excellent building materials. Introduce children or beginners to this activity by constructing a basic Warren truss bridge with toothpicks and gumdrops or mini marshmallows. For a more challenging activity, encourage participants to use glue instead of candy to attach the toothpicks.

Things You'll Need

Package of round toothpicks
Bag of gumdrops (mini marshmallows will also work)
Glue (optional)

Instructions

- 1
  Place two gumdrops with their bases laying flat on your work surface. Insert the pointed ends of a round toothpick into the center of each gumdrop's side to create a barbell shape. Insert another toothpick to each gumdrop at a 45-degree angle. Insert both bare ends of the toothpicks into the same gumdrop to form a complete triangle.
- 2
  Insert a toothpick into one of the base gumdrops of the first triangle at a 45-degree angle, and another toothpick into the top gumdrop. Insert both of the new toothpicks' bare ends into a new gumdrop; this will create a second inverted triangle. Repeat this process until you have three upright and two inverted triangles that form a trapezoidal shape.
- 3
  Repeat the triangle-making process to create another trapezoidal shape; this will run parallel to the first and give you the second side of your bridge.
- 4
  Connect the two trapezoidal sides of the bridge using a total of seven toothpicks to run across from gumdrop to gumdrop. Look down from an overhead vantage point to check that you have three squares at the base and two squares at the top.

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