Many engineering outreach programs use building a bridge as a hands-on activity for multiple grade levels and audiences. South Dakota State University (SDSU) has used bridge building activities, with slight modifications for grade level and time allowed, for over 10 years in outreach at schools and campus workshops. In recent years, it has been noted that the same level of students attending these outreach events are either performing the same or a similar activity at their school or another

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... nt outside of our outreach program which has affected the effectiveness of using this activity to stimulate interest in engineering. In the last two years, modifications have been made to create a bridge builder challenge that incorporates measurement, experimentation, simulation, design, and redesign for middle and high school students. Therefore, -incorporation of design standards and performance as well as economic efficiency has been the key to linking science principles to engineering principles. Details of the activity and its implementation are discussed.