Another Architecture Challenge

This activity is all about defying gravity.  Each group is given the same odd assortment of materials and is told to build the tallest structure possible.

Given:

- fifteenPopsicle sticks

- a roll of masking tape

- 3 paper clips,

- a dozen toothpicks

- a plastic cup

-11x14 piece of construction paper

They had 50 minutes to design and build.  This tallest tower was over 2 meters tall.

This structure proved to stand the tallest.  This year a new twist to these constructions has evolved.  The tasks each have a set amount of materials that can be used.  Students often ask for more tape, or more paper and in the past I have stuck to the "given".  This year I let students vote if they want more Popsicle sticks or more of one of the other materials.  We had 4 groups working on the towers pictured here.  Excellent debates and lobbying would follow.  It added a political game to the process which I plan to keep incorporating.  Fun stuff.