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The annual 8th grade “Toothpick Bridge” event took place the last week of October. This project requires students to use critical thinking and problem solving as they work through the technological design process. Their bridges must be made of standard size wood toothpicks and any glue. The total mass of the bridge must not exceed 100 grams and must hold a load of 5,000 grams over a 30 cm span for ten seconds (5,000 grams is about 11 pounds). Every year students are very skeptical that toothpicks can hold that kind of load, yet every year students discover that the engineering or design of the bridge is what makes the difference and students are amazed. Lauren Swicker was the “Engineer of the Year” as her bridge held 172 pounds. (School record is Allie Kwang’s bridge which held 308 pounds.) Way to go Lauren & Allie! Click HERE to view more pics of the toothpick bridges on our Facebook page.