Second grader Lena assembles Wednesday, a support structure for her group’s bridge during a STEM On The Go session at West Park Elementary.

No hardhats, no work boots or blueprints.

Just two pieces of paper, scissors and some creative thinking.

“And NO tape,” stressed West Park teacher, Crystal Halvorsen.

That’s all the second graders had on hand to create a bridge Wednesday at West Park Elementary school during a STEM On The Go session.

“These are just really great, hands-on things that engage our students,” West Park principal Paula Lawrence said. “Oh yeah, they have fun.”

Both Halvorsen and Sandi Seckel’s classes had the chance to take part in the STEM On The Go breakout sessions that bring the science, technology, engineering and math lessons to life.

Wednesday’s stop at West Park featured two lessons, Mystery Bridges and Recycled Bracelets.

Halvorsen introduced the bridge lesson with a current event, then instructed the class to construct a bridge to hold washers. 

“These can be designed however your team wants,” Halvorsen said. “You guys are the builders.”

Groups of three students had to use two pieces of paper to span six inches between two reading books. Weight was added in the middle and after three revisions, the strongest bridge was measured and recorded.

Ideas ran from simply folding the edges of both papers to adding support pieces at various points including the sides and bottom. 

“We put this brace down at the bottom so when it sinks, it can be stopped here,” one engineer described.