Showcasing creativity, engineering skills and teamwork, Class 9 students of RAKS Pallikkoodam, Coimbatore, have created a remarkable 15.2-metre-long suspension bridge using 48,800 ice cream sticks.
This innovative student project has earned recognition in the India Book of Records, marking a proud achievement for the school and its students.
Constructed entirely using ice cream sticks, the suspension bridge measures 15.2 metres in length, 1 metre in width and stands at a maximum height of 3.3 metres. Going beyond a simple assembly exercise, the students incorporated structural design, stability and engineering principles to bring this ambitious project to life.
The students worked continuously for 13 weeks to complete this impressive structure. The project involved a total of 91 days and 182 hours of dedicated effort.
From initial planning and design to construction and final assembly, the students worked together at every stage, demonstrating remarkable coordination and commitment.
The students who participated in this record-setting initiative include Airaav, Azhagu Samrith, Ashwinn, Riddhima, Yashmit Elango, Swetha Ashok, Saanvi Chaturvedi, Twiesha, Jai Srihari, Krishiv, Krishna Premchander, Jishnu Naveen and Mukesh Radhakrishnan. They were guided and mentored by Manikandan and Soban
Moving beyond conventional classroom learning, this initiative provided students with an opportunity to understand scientific and engineering concepts through hands-on experience.
The project stands as an excellent example of how experiential learning can nurture innovation, critical thinking, creativity and practical problem-solving skills among young learners.
Speaking about their achievement, the students said that creating a 15.2-metre-long suspension bridge using 48,800 ice cream sticks was both a challenging and unforgettable experience for all of us.
Every stage required careful planning, patience, coordination and the ability to overcome various challenges. This project gave us a wonderful opportunity to apply the engineering concepts we learned in the classroom to a practical application.
We are extremely happy and proud that our 13 weeks of collective effort have earned recognition in the India Book of Records. This achievement will inspire us to take up more innovative challenges and explore new possibilities in the future.
Speaking on the occasion, Swetha Krishnamurthy, Founder of RAKS Pallikkoodam, said, We believe that education should go beyond classroom lessons and nurture students’ ability to think, create, explore and innovate.
Our educational approach focuses on encouraging creativity, curiosity, research and a passion for discovering new possibilities. It is immensely gratifying to see our students bring together their knowledge and skills to create such an impressive structure.
Through this achievement, they have brought pride to their school and parents. This project reflects their dedication, perseverance and ability to work as a team.
Securing a place in the India Book of Records is indeed a proud moment for our institution. We hope that experiences like these will continue to inspire students to think independently, embrace new challenges and transform their ideas and imagination into reality.
