Flat Toothpicks

I am a math teacher and I love to have my students build toothpick bridges at the end of the year. They are still doing math but having fun with the whole project.



The materials needed are cardboard, white glue, wax paper, thread and flat toothpicks. This is inexpensive and fun for everyone involved. The first year I had difficulty finding the flat toothpicks because my local Wal-mart did not have them where I thought they should be. Last year I knew where to find them and was very happy that I did not spend a lot of time looking.



This year I waited until the week before the students were to start building to purchase the supplies. I mean, seriously, how hard is it to find cardboard, glue, thread, wax paper and flat toothpicks? Let me tell you, very hard!

Toothpicks are in every store that I have been to, round toothpicks. I need flat toothpicks for the project. About 2,500 of them. I started my quest at Wal-mart...3 of them. Only round toothpicks were to be found. I then went to Big Lots and Dollar Tree. Same problem, only round toothpicks, no flat ones.

Today my youngest child was ill, just a sinus infection, so I stayed home from school. My husband, after taking the oldest to the orthodontist, came home and kept the children so I could look for flat toothpicks. I started with Hobby Lobby. They didn't even have toothpicks, only some wierd pieces of wood.

Then I went to Mardels. An associate told me to try Party City. Party City told me to try Tom Thumb. On my way to Tom Thumb I hit another Dollar Tree, Dollar General, Family Dollar, Office Max, Target, 99 cent Store, another Office Max then went to Tom Thumb.

This Tom Thumb had flat toothpicks but only 2 boxes with 750 each. The manager gave me directions to another TT so I was on my way. I went there but they did not have any flat toothpicks. I was tired and irritable at this point. I went off to yet another TT and they did not have any either. The manager of this store was nice enough to call to find me what I needed. I drove back in the direction I had started and bought 6 more boxes.

By the time I returned home, I had been gone over 6 hours. Do I think my students will really care how much time and effort I spent on locating the toothpicks? No but that is OK.

Next year, when I do this project, I will not have to locate toothpicks. I made sure I bought enough to last for a couple of years. When I run out and do need more, I will order them online and have them delivered!