OD 6 U2: Why do we build bridges and tunnels?

The Bridge to Breezy Island

Drag and Drop

1. There is an obstacle in the middle of the road.

2. Small boats often use this ​

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3. These types of ​

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can destroy a whole building.

4. This bridge has a short ​

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5. The ​

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are strong. They carry the bridge's weight.

6. This​

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is made of wood. Others are metal.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

waterway

explosives

span

cables

beam

Draw

support - suspended - overcome - situation - problematic - link

The Bridge to Breezy Island

Hakim, Iris, Alif, and Mia stood gazing out at the ocean. The hot sun was beating down on them, and they longed to splash around in the water. "Let's ask Umar to take us on the boat to Breezy Island!" shouted Hakim excitedly. "Great idea!" said his friends, and off they ran to ask Umar. "Yes, OK, of course I'll take you," said Umar.

Multiple Choice

Where does the story take place?

• in a city

• in a jungle

• in the mountains

• by the ocean

Fifteen minutes later, the friends were splashing around in the clear blue water off Breezy Island. Iris got out of the ocean and stood on the sandy beach, looking back at their village. "Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could walk here?" she sighed. "Maybe we could," replied Alif, who was examining a shell at the water's edge. "But how?" asked Iris, puzzled. "It takes almost five minutes in Umar's boat. The ocean is a big obstacle to overcome, don't forget. It's too far to swim, and there's no road or bridge." "Nothing is so problematic that it can't be solved," Alif said.

Multiple Choice

How do the kids get to Breezy Island?

• in a boat

• they walk

• they swim

• over a bridge

At that moment, Mia came running up the beach. "What are you guys looking at?" she asked. "The village ... and the bridge," replied Alif. "Bridge? What bridge?" asked Mia, confused. "The bridge we're going to build!" laughed Alif. "The bridge that will mean we can swim here all summer long and stop bothering Umar!"

Multiple Choice

Why do the kids go to Breezy Island?

• to fish

• to swim

• to find coconuts

• to build bridges

Later on, back at the village, the four friends put their plan together. First, they each took a large sheet of paper and drew a bridge. Next, they voted for the ​best design. Mia's bridge needed cables to suspend it. Alif's bridge needed huge beams. Hakim won. His bridge was brilliant in its simplicity. It was made of wood that they could find in the village and it was beautiful to look at.

Multiple Choice

Who has the best design for the bridge?

• Mia

• Hakim

• Iris

• Alif

"But who will help us?" asked Mia thoughtfully. "We can't build a bridge ourselves!" "That's true," said Alif, "but we know many people who can! Think about it. There's Harith, the builder. And there's Keisha, who owns the fishing store. She knows everybody. All we need to do now is persuade people to help us." "You're right, Alif," said Mia. "We need to give them a reason to build the bridge." The four children stared at each other for a minute.

Multiple Choice

What do the kids decide to do?

• bother Umar

• seek adult help

• buy a boat

• draw more bridges

What reason could they give the adults? "I know!" said Hakim. "Do you remember sitting in the shade of the coconut palms? On Breezy Island, there are hundreds of them. The adults could harvest them and sell them at the market more easily than they can now." "Yes!" said Iris. "And I'll tell you something else. People could fish off Breezy Island. The water is clear and clean." "And another thing!" said Alif. "The water around the island is shallow. Parents can teach the young kids to swim in safety." The four friends looked at each other and smiled. "Let's get started!" said Mia.

Multiple Choice

Who will benefit most from the bridge?

• swimmers

• Mia

• the whole village

• Umar

Open Ended

Read again if you want, then make a mind map to show connections between the ideas in the story.

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Open Ended

The children in the story have a goal, and they find adults to help them. Have you ever tried to get an adult to help you with something? Write about what happened.

Match

Match the following

• There are many types of bridges

• Aqueducts are

• There were stacks of wood

• These two arches are

• There are commonly

including arch and suspension bridges.

bridges that carry water.

next to the fireplace.

load-bearing parts of the bridge.

three spans on large bridges.

• including arch and suspension bridges.

• bridges that carry water.

• next to the fireplace.

• load-bearing parts of the bridge.

• three spans on large bridges.