Attention getter: Prepare several long pieces of blue paper or fabric to make a river.
At circle time, take out the river and drive the car alongside the water. Express that you would like to go to the other side of the river, but you don’t know how to get there. Let children make suggestions of how you might get across the river. Some children may suggest that you could use a bridge. Agree that, “Yes, you need to build a bridge!”
Activity 1: Names of Bridges
Show the children a poster with drawings of different types of bridges. Introduce the names of each bridge and point out some of the characteristics. Show any real pictures of bridges that are in your area and see if the children can identify the characteristics.
Read and discuss: Read and discuss: From Here to There and Me to You and/or 13 Bridges Children Should Know.
From Here to There and Me to You is a book about how bridges connect our world and the people in it. As you read, let the children point out bridges in the book which are the same as on the poster.
13 Bridges Children Should Know is an informational text. This will show the children photos of real bridges. Also let the children point out bridges that are the same as on the poster. The goal is to help the children recognize the type of bridge and practice saying the name of each type of bridge.
Activity 2: Building Bridges
Before class, cut five strips of cardstock 3 inches wide and 11 inches long. Glue or tape three of the pieces together to make a stronger piece (this will be used for the arch in the arch bridge). Take one piece and accordion fold it. Leave one piece as is. Gather some square and rectangular shaped wooden blocks and a car or truck.
At circle time, take out the wooden blocks and pieces of cut cardstock. Show that you can use these to make different types of bridges, and some are stronger than others. Show the children how the car can drive over the bridge, but with just one piece of cardstock, the bridge sinks. After you build each additional type of bridge you may ask a child to come and place the car on the bridge to see if it is strong enough to hold the car.
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