Popsicle Stick Bridge Projects Kids Can Build

Making popsicle stick bridges is a fun and educational project for kids of all ages. Children love to build things and popsicle stick bridge building is the perfect way to test if their bridge design will actually work. Bridges made from popsicle sticks is a STEM activity for kids that will put their science, technology, engineering and math skills to the test in a playful way. These popsicle bridge ideas are great at home or in the classroom.

Popsicle Stick Bridges That Kids Can Build

Do you remember the first time you wondered how bridges are able to stay upright? Or how they were built? Kids of all ages (preschool, kindergarten, elementary school, middle school and even high school) can learn through the popsicle stick bridge building process gaining hands-on scientific knowledge while having fun.

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Supplies Needed for Popsicle Stick Bridge Design

*We are using popsicle sticks today which are also known as craft sticks or treat sticks. You can also use ice cream sticks or lollipop sticks for many of the popsicle stick bridge designs.

Favorite Popsicle Stick Bridge Designs for Kids

1. How To Build A Strong Popsicle Stick Bridge

Here’s an engineering project to do with the kids. Kids can build a strong popsicle stick bridge using colored popsicle sticks and school glue to glue sticks.. It is a simple way to teach about how important structure is to strength. From Teach Beside Me.

2. How to Build a Bridge with Popsicle Sticks

Here’s a simple tutorial to create a bridge with popsicle sticks, a creative mind, and other easy household items. It includes step by step instructions as well as images to help you create a bridge design, including the planning, construction of the truss bridge, and the deck of the bridge. From WikiHow.

3. Delaware Memorial Bridge Kids Craft

The Delaware Memorial Bridge is the longest and one of the main span suspension bridges in the world, and today kids can have so much fun building a small version of the bridge using hot glue, paper, pencil, and popsicle sticks. From Confessions of a Home Schooler.

4. How to Build a Popsicle Stick Bridge

Kids can build a bridge to get acquainted with basic physical forces like tension and compression, plus they’re an excellent idea for science projects and fairs. This tutorial from Science Project Ideas includes easy steps to build a bridge and test it with small weights.

5. DIY Miniature Bridge | How To Make Popsicle Stick Bridge

Follow this video tutorial to make an easy craft of mini bridge, without leaving your home. Making your own bridges is a perfect way to teach about civil engineering in a simple way. From My Crafts.

6. Make a Warren Truss Bridge with Popsicle Sticks

Now let’s learn about truss design and make a truss bridge from Makezine. They explain how they work which is very important in modern architecture, and then shared a tutorial to make the bridge using wood.

7. How to Make a Craft Stick Bridge for Small World Play

Make a simple bridge with duct tape and craft sticks in this fun STEM activity. Kids can think like engineers as they design and build a bridge to support toy cars. How much more fun can it be? From Preschool Tool Kit.

8. Popsicle Stick Bridge Engineering Activity

This super-fun popsicle stick bridge engineering challenge will help enhance your kiddo’s engineering skills no matter their age. This STEM activity only requires craft sticks and play dough. From Mommy Evolution.

9. Da Vinci Popsicle Stick Bridge

Instructables shared a tutorial to make a self-supporting bridge (meaning it can sustain its own weight) with no mechanical fasteners or adhesives, based on one of Leonardo Da Vinci’s designs. You’ll need jumbo popsicle sticks (colorful ones will be more fun), a stable working platform, and a kid willing to build a bridge!

10. How To Make A Popsicle Stick Bridge

In less than 5 minutes, kids will be able to build their own bridge using hot glue guns and popsicle sticks. This activity is more suitable for older kids with the supervision of an adult, but younger kids can watch and learn about bridges. From Zebra Comet.

11. How to Make a Popsicle Bridge

Follow this video tutorial from AM Channel Rp to learn how to make a popsicle bridge using 50 sticks. It takes about 30 minutes overall and it’s suitable for kids ages 6 and up. This craft can be done in small groups or by kids on their own if they prefer STEM challenges.

12. How to make popsicle stick bridge

Dyartorin Crafts shared this easy and simple tutorial to make a bridge using ice cream sticks. You won’t believe how fast it is to put together!

13. Build a Da Vinci Bridge with Popsicle Sticks

Here’s another STEM activity for kids! We recommend this project is great for age 10 and up – younger kids will love it too, but may need more help from a parent or teacher. Just follow the step by step directions to build a Da Vinci Bridge. From Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls.

14. Engineer a Truss Bridge with Craft Sticks

Kids of all ages will have fun with this craft stick bridge STEM challenge. Younger kids will enjoy building and playing with the bridge, while older kids can take the opportunity to learn about how bridges are designed the way they are. From There’s Just One Mommy.

15. Bridge Building STEM Challenge For Kindergarten

We have an activity that is perfect for the little kids in kindergarten! Not only is it a fun way to learn about how bridges work, but since it’s dinosaur-themed, kids between 3 and 5 years old will be more than thrilled to make it. From How Wee Learn.

16. DIY Miniature Bridge

This fun craft from Junk to Fun Projects shows how to make a miniature bridge. It is mostly made out of popsicle sticks, and the best part is that it is super easy to make and also inexpensive. You can display the finished result in your garden!

17. Let’s Take A Drive Bridge

To make this drive bridge you’ll need at least 50 popsicle sticks (medium to large in size), wood glue or hot glue if you want it done faster, a shallow pan, clothespins, and an X-Acto knife. Then just follow the steps! From The Adventures of Action Jackson.

18. DIY Popsicle Stick Bridge

Dyartorin Crafts shared a different way to make a popsicle stick bridge. Probably the best use you can give to your old ice cream sticks instead of throwing them away!

19. How to build a truss bridge with only Popsicle sticks and glue

Here’s another fun video tutorial to build a truss bridge with popsicle sticks – a classic science project. You’ll be surprised by the strong shape of your own bridge. From Little Workshop.

20. Make a popsicle stick bridge

Watch this video tutorial from Dyartorin Crafts to learn how to build a bridge with wooden popsicle sticks that will sustain on its own. Younger kids will be impressed by how they are built and older kids will have a blast building them.

21. Popsicle Sticks Bridge Competition

After you watch this short video, your kids will be able to make a bridge with popsicle sticks. The cool thing is that this bridge is so strong it is able to carry a weight of 100kg. Isn’t that so interesting?! From Er. Pramodnagmal.

How to Make a Popsicle STick Bridge Design Challenge

You can use any of these popsicle stick bridge designs as a the foundation of a bridge building challenge between kids or groups of kids. Engineering is a team sport in the real world and kids can get real team experience by competing with a team to build their own popsicle bridge design.

Types of Challenges for Popsicle Stick Bridge Competitions

• Bridge Supplies Challenge: Each child or team is given the same supplies and instructions to solve a problem and compete within the given perimeters.
• Timed Building Challenge: Each child or team is given a limited time to finish a challenge or a race to see who can solve the problem first.
• Specific Task Challenge: A problem to solve is given to see what child or team can come up with the best solution, design and build.
• Follow the Instructions Challenge: Each child or team is given the same instructions and see who can follow them the closest.
• Design Challenge: Kids or teams are judged on their ability to design the best solution for the challenge.

Types of Bridge Designs that Work Well With Popsicle STicks

• Truss Bridge Design: The truss bridge design is the most popular popsicle stick bridge design because it can be build to nearly any length (do I feel a challenge coming on?) and is very versatile for kids of any skill.
• Beam Bridge Design: The beam bridge is the simplest of all popsicle bridge designs and a good one to start with really young bridge builders.
• Arch Bridge Design: The arch bridge has a lot of finesse and can be really fun to tackle for advanced bridge designers.
• Suspension Bridge Design: The suspension bridge is a more complicated bridge to build and usually uses things beyond just popsicle sticks and glue.
• Suspended Bridge Design: The suspended bridge is more like a footbridge design and kids will love making something that might remind them of a favorite bridge at the playground.

more STEM PROJECTS from kids activities blog

Which popsicle stick bridge will you try out first with your kiddos?