Towers are measured from the top of the ball – so if a ball is at the tower’s midpoint, that is where the tower’s height is measured from. Objective: build the tallest freestanding structure possible ... At this point, you've created the main components of your tower. How about building a cardboard paper dice tower? Now start adding more rolls of paper to the top of the central tube until the structure begins to wobble. Welcome to TAME Engineering Adventures! Prepare a neat lab report and conclusion to complete the project. You can fold, bend, cut, shape paper. No tape, glue, string, paperclips, or … students analyze the relationship between three-dimensional geometric figures and related two-dimensional representations and use these representations to solve problems, such as: describing and drawing the intersection of a given plane with various three-dimensional geometric figures, using nets to represent and construct three-dimensional geometric figures, using orthographic and isometric views of three-dimensional geometric figures to represent and construct three-dimensional geometric figures and solve problems, find areas of regular polygons, circles, and composite figures, find surface areas and volumes of prisms, pyramids, spheres, cones, cylinders, and composites of these figures in problem situations, use area models to connect geometry to probability and statistics, use conversions between measurement systems to solve problems in real-world situations, calculate the effect of forces on objects, including the law of inertia, the relationship between force and acceleration, and the nature of force pairs between objects, develop and interpret free-body force diagrams, which show the relative magnitude and direction of all forces acting upon an object in a given situation, such as friction and gravity. You can also fill a detailed worksheet based on the above. UCD School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Students can take measurements of all the towers, then plot the data and calculate mean, median, and range of the information, Students can study proportional relationships by asking how wide the base of their tower would need to be, if their tower were built to become the, Students can classify the 3-dimensional figures within each tower, Identify top, side, and front views of 3-D figures, Calculate the volume of the 3-D figures and determine the area of composite figures such as rectangles, squares, parallelograms, trapezoids, triangles, and semicircles, Students can study proportional relationships by asking how wide the base of their tower would need to be, if their tower were built to become the, Students can apply the volume formula to calculate the volume of the tower shape, students use constructions to explore attributes of geometric figures and to make conjectures about geometric relationships, Dimensionality and the geometry of location. At this point, the students may be embarrassed. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. ( Log Out /  At the end, snap photos again. For older kids in the lab, you can also formulate a numerical theory (involving the height of the tower and its weight, for example) along with a proper solution to aid them in the project. If you liked these, you’ll love our Engineering: Activities for All Ages board! The objective is simple, and so are the supplies.

( Log Out /  Tower height (as measured to top of golf ball) 1 point for every one inch tall Example: tower is 7 inches tall – 72 points, Tower is 20 inches tall – 85 points TRADE OFF: You are limited to five sheets of paper, and must determine how much of that limited resource to allow for support, so the tower does not bend or fall over with the load. Check out the plan of the Eiffel tower. In addition, students will find helpful scissors ($1 per team) and a ruler ($1 per team). This creates a stable base for the tower. The lightest tower that still supports the weight is the most efficient tower. of sheets can also be limited to 1-10 sheets of sizes A4, 8×11, etc. You may or may not have anyone raise their hands–if not, reassure your students you will not punish them for this.

Can you balance it in such a way that it resembles the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Materials Allowed: 5 sheets of paper and masking tape (two feet maximum), Tower height (as measured to top of golf ball) 1 point for every one inch tall          Example: tower is 7 inches tall – 72 points,                                       Tower is 20 inches tall – 85 points. Divide your students into groups, distribute scratch paper, and give them 10 minutes to build the tallest free-standing towers they can imagine. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

You can hold it in place with the aid of 4 pieces of tape along the 4. Can you make it powerful enough to hold a pile of books? It’s a great way to get your Club members to start thinking like engineers in preparation for our STEM Competitions. ( Log Out /  Physics / Integrated Physics and Chemistry.

Can you create the basic 3D triangular structure and reinforce later with narrow paper strips according to a template? As before, the objective and supplies are simple. An engineering challenge that tests you on the knowledge of basic scientific facts is fun to take up in school. Texas Alliance for Minorities in Engineering. However, as this is a challenge for middle school and high school students with shorter time limits, we encourage you to consider allowing tape, glue, string, paperclips, or other supplies. No need of rolling dice by hand now! This task can be varied by changing the size and number of paper sheets students (as individuals or in pairs or small groups) can use for construction, as well as the adhesive you provide. This one is a bit tough, ideal for the seniors. Later, share the photos with students so they can see how much their designs and methods improved when they were able to collaborate and do research. [They should be given a prior lesson about how a wide base with a low center of gravity helps in supporting.].

These will come in handy with the Competition Practice Adventure, so students can see their improvement. All records listed on our website are current and up-to-date. Lead them to an engineering mindset: Afterward, when you are discussing what worked and what they would improve in another round, ask your students to raise their hand if they looked at what other teams were building.

Use the additional paper you have left (roughly a third of the sheet) to create more body components and increase the height of the tower. The students work in teams and use only paper in the construction.