The class of junior high students are not only creating bridges from toothpicks, they are using a multitude of skills and patience to select and design structurally-sound two-ounce bridges that will hold more than 35 pounds of weight.

John Lewis, class instructor, said the students are using science, technology, engineering and math skills as they master each step in the process. That process started with a printed out photo of a bridge design and a drawing made to scale on graph paper.

Technology student Jason Klenck explained how he used the conversion factor to create a 12-inch-long bridge from a photo of a bridge that measured a little more than eight inches in length. The conversion factor was a set of figures posted on a white board. “The conversion factor is different for everyone,” Klenck explained. “I wasn’t excited about using math but it’s okay when it’s useful.”

Once the scale drawing is done, students create each side of the bridge by arranging and gluing the pieces over the drawing with wax paper between the drawing and the wood.

Times Observer photo by Lorri Drumm WCCS students Talyn Cain and Victoria Root work on her toothpick bridge during technology class. Once completed,the two-ounce structures will be able to hold more than 35 pounds.

Wax paper seems to be the go-to problem solver as the students use clothespins to clamp pieces together and hold 10 toothpicks together to create the pavement for the bridge.

Student Ivy Moore showed how she used double-sided tape and wax paper to ensure the clothespin didn’t get stuck to her bridge as it clamped pieces together.

It isn’t just a matter of gluing random pieces together. While the bridges may be the perfect size for a mouse or two, once done, they are designed to hold a well-fed cat.

Pliers are used to trim and a small saw or a file can be used to make notches in the tiny pieces of wood. Klenck showed how using a file to create a notch eliminated wobbling between parts. “See how the saw made the notch bigger,” he said as he put a toothpick in and wiggled it. “The file makes it just the right size and it’s more secure. Filing takes time and elbow grease, but it’s worth it.”

Durability is key in the finished product but, as one might expect, tiny pieces of wood aren’t always cooperative. Lewis admitted there are occasions when tiny pieces of wood “fly everywhere.” “That’s part of engineering,” he said. “They have to find out what they can’t do.”

Times Observer photo by Lorri Drumm WCCS students Ivy Moore and Devon Smith work on designing and creating toothpick bridges in technology class. Once completed, the two-ounce structures will be able to hold more than 35 pounds.

Once the bridge construction is done students can choose to paint or stain their creation before they take part in Chicken Day.

No, Chicken Day is not the day that chickens get to try to cross the finished bridges. It is the day the students must test their willingness to test the strength of their creation or “chicken out.”

On Chicken Day, a sack will be filled with rocks to see how much weight each bridge can withstand. Rocks are added to the sack until the sides of the bridge begin to bow, according to Lewis.

“The builders get nervous,” he said. “At that point, they either chicken out or BOOM.”

Lewis has only seen two bridges destroyed in the history of Chicken Day. Klenck seemed uncertain if he, or his bridge, could withstand the pressure. “All that time and work just to break it,” Klenck said. “I don’t know.”