An exhibit about solving problems

Crank the crane and lift I-beams to construct a highway bridge, tackle bridge building challenges, redesign the city and find out about the new I-195 Iway.

Bridges take us over water, over roads, over land. Bridges solve the problem of getting from here to there. Engineers, architects and construction workers solve a lot of problems as they design and build a new bridge. The Museum’s Iway exhibit takes advantage of the I-195 relocation project, one of the biggest highway projects in the state’s history, to engage kids (and grown-ups) in an investigation of roadways and bridges.

Donning hardhats and safety vests, kids operate a crane to lift I-beams, complete finish work atop a kid-sized replica of the Iway bridge, and construct their own arch bridges big enough to crawl through. Kids and grown-ups discover the physics of bridges as they solve challenges with beam, arch and cantilever bridges and redesign the city on the play-on landscape map. Families learn about the history and planned future of the I-195 relocation project occurring within sight of the Museum. A book nook contains carefully chosen books about road and bridge construction.

Iway is recommended for children ages 6 to 10 – and their adult friends – for maximum understanding and interest. Younger and older children also enjoy many of the exhibit’s interactive elements. Play guides are on hand to encourage fun and learning.

Some things to do in Iway

Preschoolers:

Put on a construction hat and vest and climb up on the bridge – pretend to be a bridge builder.
Drive the tugboat under the bridge.
Make the crane move by turning the handle.
Make a city on the map table with buildings, houses and roads.

Ages 5 to 7:

Put on a construction hat and vest and become a part of the bridge construction crew. Attach the bridge plates with wrenches and bolts.
Use the crane to lift an I-beam all the way up to the top of the bridge.
Arrange buildings and roads on the map table. Figure out how the cars will get from place to place and over the water.
Use the big soft blocks to make a bridge between the two bases.

Ages 8 and up:

Design your own city at the map table. Where would you put the roads, buildings and bridges in your city? Think about the questions written on the bottom of the buildings.
Experiment with different bridge designs at the bridge building table. Make a bridge that spans a canyon. Build a cantilever bridge that is high enough for a boat to sail under.
Look at the photos of bridges in the windows. Find a suspension bridge, a beam bridge, an arch bridge, and a cantilever bridge.
Examine the sliding road maps. Figure out how people got from Providence to East Providence before the highways were built. What do you think of the plan to move the highway?

Other Exhibits: