The Paper Bridge Challenge
- Phil Wells
- Apr 1
- 2 min read
Welcome to the Paper Bridge Challenge!
We’re excited to share our very first downloadable workshop on Substack—and it’s an absolute winner for curious kids and creative classrooms. Simple, low-cost, and endlessly fun, the Paper Bridge Challenge explores the power of paper engineering in a way that’s hands-on, imaginative, and educational.
This activity helps children see paper not just as something to draw on—but as a building material. By folding, rolling, layering, and connecting A4 sheets, students get to explore how structure works in the real world using just scrap paper, a few books, and their own brilliant ideas.
Perfect for teachers and parents alike, this challenge is designed as a single-lesson workshop with a short intro to the forces in play (like imposed loads, dead loads and friction). Children work in small teams of 2–3, testing ideas, iterating quickly, and collaborating in this fast-moving design exercise.
Download the free workshop sheets from our SubStack
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The Mission:
Build a paper bridge that spans the longest possible distance and holds a small weight (like a teaspoon), using just three sheets of A4 paper. No tape, glue, staples, or connectors allowed—only clever folds, rolls, overlaps, and friction.
Sounds tricky?
It’s absolutely achievable—and it’s a brilliant way to bring science and creativity together in one engaging session.
Inside, you’ll find clear guidance and some sneaky paper engineering trick. Here’s a taste of what kids will discover:
• Folding: Gives strength and stability—just don’t overdo it.
• Rolling: Adds structural integrity in all directions.
• Using diagonals: Think beyond the edges—get more span out of each sheet.
• Connecting: Overlap, crimp, and fold sheets together—friction is your best friend!
• Layering: Combine sheets to boost strength—but use your limited material wisely.
In the world of creativity, there’s no one “right” answer—and no “wrong” ones either.
We encourage students to experiment, iterate, and enjoy the process as much as the outcome. The more trial runs attempted, the more students learn about materials, problem-solving, and teamwork.
Our top span so far? 1.2 metres (around 4 sheets of A4 laid end-to-end). We got there with about 20 attempts, a bit of clever thinking—and by wedging the bridge ends firmly between books! (Remember - friction is your friend).
We’d love to see what your children or students create!
Share your photos by email or through Substack. Let’s celebrate young inventors and their brilliant ideas!
Thanks for reading—and happy building!
The Architecture Kids Team
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