Printable Quest Guide
Family Paper Bridge Load Lab
Test how folds, layers, and supports change a paper bridge’s strength in a kitchen-table engineering challenge using ordinary supplies and gentle weights.
- Time
- 1 Hour
- Cost
- Free
- Best for
- Family
- Location
- At Home
Your Mission
Use Family Paper Bridge Load Lab to turn an ordinary stretch of free time into a focused, welcoming adventure with a clear beginning, a useful finish, and room for everyone to participate.
What You'll Need
- Ten sheets of paper
- Two books of similar height
- Coins or dry beans in a cup
- Pencil and paper for results
How to Do the Quest
- 1
Place the books a short distance apart and lay one sheet of paper across them as the first bridge.
- 2
Add one coin or bean at a time in a small cup and record when the bridge bends too far.
- 3
Fold a new sheet into an accordion, tube, or layered strip and predict which shape will hold more.
- 4
Test each design with the same books, cup, and number of weights.
- 5
Compare the results and draw the shape that held the most weight.
Quest Challenge
Can the group improve the first bridge result by changing only the paper shape?
Pro Tip
Use small, non-breakable weights and add them slowly so the result is easy to see and repeat.
Quest Complete
What would you repeat, change, or remember from Family Paper Bridge Load Lab?