How do I prepare a student team for a bridge contest?

Short answer: start with the rules, build several practice bridges, keep records, and let the students make the design decisions. Your job is to ask good questions.

A simple timeline

1. Week 1: rules. Read the rulebook together and fill in a limits sheet. See reading your rulebook.
2. Week 2: concepts and materials. Cover truss basics and choosing sticks. Have students weigh and sort the stock.
3. Weeks 3 to 4: first bridge. Build a simple truss and break it. Record where it failed.
4. Weeks 5 to 6: improve. Change one thing per version.
5. Final week: rehearse. Build the entry, check it against every limit, and rehearse the weigh-in and loading.

Roles in a team

• Designer and checker. Keeps the plan and the limits sheet.
• Cutter. Cuts and sands the members.
• Builder. Glues on the plan.
• Tester and recorder. Runs the rig and writes down the results.

Rotate roles, so every student learns every job.

Keep records

A shared log of every bridge: mass, load, first failure and what changed. See testing safely.

Keep it the students' own

Ask questions rather than giving answers: "Which stick broke first, and why?" Check the contest's outside-help rules, including any about AI tools, and make sure students can explain every choice. See using AI fairly.

Safety

Eye protection for every test, a clear area under the load, and sharp knives handled with care. See tools.