The Bridge Built from Both Banks: discussion sheet

Part Three: The Relationship · about 4 minutes to read aloud · Theme: building from both sides

A village and a machine each build half a bridge, and both halves fall into the river. One useful question shouted across the water changes how they build.

Choose a question to talk over, or try the activity with words and pictures.

Start here

Why does each half of the bridge fall into the river?

Go further

Each bank builds with its own hands and the other bank’s knowledge, while adult masons build the piers and children check chalk marks from dry ground. Why not let the machine build the whole bridge by itself?

Make something

Fold a page into two banks. On one side draw the spring flood; on the other, the soft ground. Write a question across the river that neither bank can answer alone.

Read The Bridge Built from Both Banks online: youngmachines.org/read/fables/the-bridge-built-from-both-banks/