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The bridge of paper

Two friends discover that a first attempt can be useful.

Stories · Independent readers · Original writing

Nia and Bo wanted to build a bridge for a toy car. They laid a sheet of paper between two thick books. The car rolled onto it. The paper sagged.

“That did not work,” said Bo. Nia looked beneath the bridge. “The middle needs help,” she said. They folded the paper back and forth like a fan.

This time the car crossed, then stopped on a crease. They tried a wider fold. Bo held one end while Nia watched the wheels.

By the end of the afternoon, they had three bridges and several new questions. The first sheet lay beside the books. Nia kept it. “It showed us where to look,” she said.

Pause & wonder

What did the friends notice after the first try? Did they both do the same job?

Try a little activity

With a grown-up nearby, try a paper bridge between two stable books. Use a small paper shape as the traveller.

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