Bridge Builder Level 3
Argenta Sugden
Ode to the Bridge Builder is a level in the video game World of Goo. It is the eleventh level of Chapter 1. In this level, Common Goo must be used to build a bridge across a gap. This level is similar to Small Divide, but the gap is larger, more Goo Balls are available, and more Goo Balls must be collected to complete the level and to gain OCD.
Be sure to build a good foothold and always add support when needed. This is definitely a large gap, but as long as you are always making sure to add support when the bridge seems weak, you should be good until the end.
Another one of the harder OCDs, this can be done with a really big foothold, building fast, and needing to add support as little as possible. Alternatively, build upwards as fast as possible with a thin structure and make it fall right. You can use Goo throwing or add weight to one side if it appears to be falling. Always throw Goo at the sleeping Goo at the end if it doesn't already wake up while you're building towards the pipe. You'll have to make it to the pipe building with only 26 Balls for it to work.
There is a complicated intended strategy for this level, but you can circumvent all of it with a single construction. On the left side, you need to make three paths for the carts to ride across and reach the middle. At the bottom, simply make a long bridge connecting the bottom anchor point to the middle ones. On the upper two levels, make simple ramps to launch the carts down onto the bridge below. Secure it all with triangle arches underneath, and add cables attached to the middle ceiling anchor.
In the middle, right of the yellow and blue portal, you need to build a ramp that drops the carts down onto the button, then leads them across to the newly opened path. Its hard to get it just right, but saves a lot of time and effort. Look at the image below. You need the carts to run into that high slope, slide backwards down, hit the button, bump off the backboard, then ride across the short bridge. Make sure the edges of your bridge are above the solid ground so it can use it for support. Also make sure your vertical section is steep enough that the carts can't ride up it.
It will probably take some work, but once you get that middle build running smoothly you are home free. Simply make a triangle arch supported bridge leading from that bottom platform up to the exit. Add some cables from above if you need extra support.
First step to completing this level is to construct a series of walls to deflect the energy pellet from its spawner into the larger room. Use the anchor points to create a 45 degree wall in front of the spawner, another one below, then a symmetrical set on the other side to consistently lead it to the portal. It is hard to explain the exact construction, so reference the image below.
Next, you will need to create a series of platforms that the carts can use to dodge the pellet, and a deflection point to help the pellet reach the receiver. Using the anchor points on the floor, make a ramp that leads up towards the ceiling. Support it with arches connected to the other floor anchors. Just past the apex of the ramp, build a short bridge using the anchor points on the ceiling for support. This will be necessary for the cart to ride over top of the energy pellet. Make sure you leave space between the end of the ramp and start opf the bridge for the pellet to pass through.
Finally, below the aforementioned gap build another 45-ish degree angle solid wall to deflect the pellet into the receiver on the ceiling. Use the Test feature to get the angle just right, then send the carts through and make sure they don't collide with the pellet. If everything runs smoothly the carts should ride into the yellow portal, and the pellet should open the exit. Again, it is a confusing build so reference the image below to see the end product.
Alternatively, you may be able to solve this level with just the deflectors in the upper right room. I was able to construct them in such a way that the pellet passed through the portal, then bounced off the floor and into the receiver. I have included a close up image below if you want to try and replicate it yourself.
This was many, many years ago when I was the Science Club sponsor. At one of our club meetings, I gave students some spaghetti strands (uncooked), some tape, and a cup of pennies. Their task was to build a bridge that would hold the pennies.
Keep it simple! First graders do not need extravagant materials or a huge scenario for what they are building. The best way is to show them a short video or read part of a picture book to introduce the challenge. Our favorite Bridge book is Twenty One Elephants by Phil Bildner. It is the story of the Brooklyn Bridge being tested by circus elephants. First graders love this book! TIP: Think about paraphrasing most of the book and showing the pictures- to save time. First graders will get the wiggles if you read the whole book. They are anxious to get busy building a bridge.
The Challenge: Using connecting cubes and craft sticks ( and a little bit of tape) build a bridge. I discovered quickly that first graders want ramps for their bridges. They invented some very imaginative ways to create the ramps so cars could travel over the bridge.
Again, keep it simple! That is seriously the best tip I can give you about building bridges. These youngest engineers will not need more than a few materials. They will also think more about what a bridge looks like and will include side rails and ramps.
The Challenge: Using straws, craft sticks, and tape build a bridge to connect two chairs (or tables). I also added little cars to this challenge. This is a little more difficult than the first-grade challenge because of the span the bridge must cross. I let each team decide how far apart to make the chairs and the distance was only a few inches. They were very concerned about the car falling off the bridge and added side rails.
Third graders are ready to be challenged with unusual materials. I use the Index Card Bridge with them. Each team has a stack of cards (any size) and tape is optional. We also use pennies for weight. TIP: Think about how you will talk to students about the unusual designs they will try. You can see a little of what I mean in the photo below.
The span of the bridge is sagging from the weight of two pennies. Students will try folding cards into zigzags and piling them on top of one another to be the bridge. This rarely works. So, when you see students doing this, what do you say? My answer: nothing. This is one of their first opportunities to learn from failure (in STEM). They will try many things with those cards and then finally discover what will work!
The Challenge: Using only index cards build a bridge that will support weight. This resource has an introductory activity that will help students understand that folding the cards is one way to make this work.
The Challenge: Using straws, string, some tape, and paperclips build a bridge that will support weight. We have used many ways to create the span for this bridge, too. Also, the use of the string is part of this challenge. It becomes a factor as the bridges are built. The students use it to support the roadway of the bridge. These bridges can hold a lot of pennies.
This project is one only my upper-grade students complete. We use hot glue guns (low-temperature) and this project takes longer. It is more difficult to sustain excitement with a project for younger students. They ten to like something that is finished in one class session.
TIPS: The materials for this bridge are easy to gather. We use cardboard strips that I cut from packing boxes. Ask your cafeteria staff to save boxes for you! You will need several low-temp glue guns and you need to set up glue stations. I used our floor space for the glue stations and covered the floor with heavy brown paper to help catch glue drips.
The Challenge is to build a model of a suspension bridge. The glue is used to make the supports on each end of the bridge. Stuednet have many different ways of using the string as the suspension part of the bridge.
I have these listed by grade level but you can certainly try any of the ideas/resources at a different grade! The 3rd, 4th, and 5th-grade challenges are available in my TpT store. Just click on the images.
The solution to this level is simple, but executing it can be quite hard. Basically you will use the anchor points in front of every portal to either guide a cart in or launch a cart of out the respective portal. All of these ramps only need to be one panel long, but the angles need to be precise.
The cart path will be spawner to lower light blue, upper light blue to lower yellow, upper yellow to lower dark blue, then upper dark blue to the exit. As I said, all you need is a single panel (of varying length) in front of each one. You can support them from other anchor points with cables, or by connected to the other bridges with non-solid rails. Make sure none of the cart paths are blocked by a nearby ramp.
Ultimately completing the level all comes down to consistency. Use the image below as a reference and keep tweaking your ramps until the carts pass over smoothly without breaking the supports or losing their way.
In this level you need to create an upper and lower path for the carts to switch between as they advance towards the exit. Over the acid gap on the left side, first build a ramp using the lower left anchor point. You want it at about a 45 degree angle to send the carts up, then build a short landing pad using the upper right anchor point. This will allow a cart on the lower path to rise up to the upper path. To accomodate the upper path carts that need to descend, build a bridge that connects the ramp to the lower right anchor point. Use plenty of triangle arches to support this whole contruction. Reference the image below if you need assistance.
The right acid gap is much simpler. All you need to do is contruct two bridges, one for the upper path and one for the lower. Connect the upper and lower bridge using triangle arches for support. This should allow the carts to easily reach the exit.
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