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Week 02 · Tall Tower

Monday

The tall tower challenge
// The tallest tower made of paper
⏱ about 20 min

Monday: The Tall Tower Challenge

Rocket waves a stack of paper. "Today we build up, up, up!"

Raven reads the challenge card twice.

"What do you notice? There are rules on the card," Raven says.

Nova shines a light on the card. "Would you like a hint? Rules shape the build."

The challenge

  • Goal: build the tallest paper tower you can.
  • It must stand by itself for ten seconds.
  • Nobody may hold it or lean it on a wall.

Constraints

A constraint is a rule or a limit.

Engineers always work with constraints.

  • Use 10 sheets of paper, no more.
  • Use one strip of tape as long as your arm.
  • No glue and no other materials.
GOAL OR CONSTRAINT?
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
Build the tallest tower. Is that the goal or a constraint?
Use only ten sheets. Is that the goal or a constraint?
RuleAllowed?
Use 10 sheets of paper.?
Use 15 sheets of paper.?
Hold the tower up with your hand.?
WHY THIS EXERCISEA fair challenge means every builder follows the same rules.
Imagine
Think of three ways to make paper stand up.
Roll it? Fold it? Bend it?
Draw two tower ideas.
SORT THE RULES
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
It must stand for ten seconds. Goal or constraint?
Use one strip of tape as long as your arm. Goal or constraint?
Why do engineers have constraints?
RuleAllowed?
Roll the paper into tubes.?
Use glue to stick the paper.?
Lean the tower on a wall.?
Fold the paper any way you like.?
WHY THIS EXERCISEKnowing the rules first saves time later.
Try it
Take one sheet of paper.
Try to stand it up flat.
Now roll it, fold it or bend it.
Which shape stands by itself?
Safety first
Paper edges can scratch. Keep them away from eyes.

You asked and imagined like an engineer!

Tomorrow, we learn what helps a tower stand.