Prompt: Given limited materials, build the tallest tower you can.
Ages: We use this for elementary and middle school students.
Materials per group of 3-7:
1 USA today newspaper
5 feet of scotch tape (or a roll if kids are younger)
Discuss:
What types of shapes are the best for holding loads? (suggestions will be triangle, square, circle).
Why would triangles and circles be good? (they will not crush)
How can you get circles and triangles using newspaper?(roll the newspaper to get circles, make tripods and trusses to make triangles)
What is a truss? (we always try to teach them what a truss is, and make them learn that word. Basically, triangles within a structure to make it stronger).
What is tension and what is compression? (pull apart, push together)
Build:
See if you can get the tower to touch the ceiling. Taping it to the ceiling does not count!
