Roddy Road covered bridge in Frederick County, Maryland
Weathering and Erosion of Bridges
Grades 4, 6-8
Frederick County, Maryland, is home to many historic covered bridges that have been maintained and restored for over a hundred years. In this lesson, we will explore why these bridges were originally built with roofs and examine the natural processes that cause bridge materials to decay over time.
Teacher's Guide and Related Standards
I can explore the natural processes that cause bridges to decay over time and understand why historic bridges were covered with roofs.
- What is weathering and erosion? How do they contribute to the decay of bridges?
- Why were historic bridges covered with roofs?
Maryland by Air Clip
- How old is the Utica Mills Bridge?
- How old is the Lloyd’s Station Bridge?
- Why were many of these bridges covered?
- How would the upkeep of an uncovered bridge compare to a roof-covered bridge?
Vocabulary
Supplemental Enrichment Activites
The Water Cycle Model
Have students use the water cycle model as a template for developing their own water cycle models. Their models should incorporate bridges and illustrate how the water cycle contributes to bridge decay over time.
Weathering, Erosion and Deposition
Students will gather evidence for weathering, erosion, and deposition by exploring the resources on an interactive map of geologic features in North America. They will then use the gathered evidence to construct explanations for how these geoscience phenomena shape Earth’s surface features over time. Students will conclude that these processes have shaped and continue to shape Earth’s surface.
Comparing Bridges
Students will analyze both Bridge A (covered bridge with a roof) and Bridge B (bridge without a roof). In the space provided, they will then explain which bridge they think will be the most stable over time, and which will change the quickest.
Career Connections