Bamboo Structures

What to Make:

Build a structure as wide as your classroom, or as high, or both!

What to Use:

• Use only Pea Sticks or Split Bamboo garden canes each approximately 1 metre long (i.e. between 600mm and 1200mm)
• Use only elastic bands to make joints.
• Any filled in panels may be made by adding coloured tissue paper fixed in place using P.V.A. glue.

Things to find out and think about:

• Look at large framework structures (e.g. truss bridges, scaffolding, garage forecourt canopies, electricity pylons) either by visiting them or searching for photos using the internet.
• Note the shapes made by the framework - how often do you see squares or triangles? Why do you think triangles are so common?

Some ideas:

Ways of Making:

• Lash together lengths of cane to make triangles using elastic bands - simply hook the elastic band round one end of a cane then keep it stretched tight as it is wrapped around the canes forming the joint.
• Link the triangles together to form pyramid like structures (e.g. either square or triangular).
• Join several pyramids together to create a large structure (e.g. a tower, a bridge across a classroom or a pyramid to walk inside).

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Safety Point! Cane structures are very light in weight so a safe way to build a tall structure is to lift and add extra pyramids from underneath rather than trying to stand on desks and chairs etc.

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Testing:

• Does it reach the classroom ceiling or allow you to walk under it or inside it?
• Which shapes worked best - triangles or squares?

Further Work:

• Think of making structures involving or including other shapes or polygons (e.g. look at how footballs are made)
• Find out about Geodesic Domes by searching on the internet.
• Even larger models can be built similarly by binding together long lengths of card tube, plastics pipe or lengths of timber using cable ties, gaffer tape, duct tape or similar.

DT Online Buyers' Guide

• Similar Structures can be modelled using the Construction Kits listed in the Truss Bridges article or Stripwood Technology Materials and tools described in Stripwood Technology Tools.

Bamboo Plant Support Canes	Split Cane Plant Supports	Artstraws	Coloured Tissue Paper	PVA Washable School Glue	Spaghetti	Glue Guns	Coloured Gaffer Tape	Cable Ties	Elastic Bands