Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Garfield middle school students explored the intersection of art and science last quarter with a bridge-building project.
The elective engineering class, taught by Phil Weagraff, began with students studying the various arenas of engineering, from electrical and mechanical to structural, biological and marine.
Then they learned about forms of bridges and set out to design their own, using balsa wood or spaghetti noodles.
“I encouraged them to make it as aesthetically pleasing as possible, while needing to be structurally sound,” said Weagraff.
Some of the bridges were tested using several books as weight. Others were not.
“If one looks really cool, we don’t want to break it,” said Weagraff.
The students could choose whether to build from balsa wood or the spaghetti noodles, but not both.
“We don’t test the spaghetti bridges, they are a bit more fragile,” said Weagraff.
This year, Quentin Rose, a seventh-grader, built a draw-bridge. It was the first time Weagraff has seen that in three years teaching the class.
The teacher distributes the balsa wood in two-foot strips.
“I try to make sure I have plenty, I haven’t run out yet,” he said.
The bridges will be put on display in April at the academic celebration.
Now in his 11th year of teaching at Garfield, Weagraff began as an English teacher before switching to science.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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