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Week 02 · Tall Tower

Wednesday

Build tower version 1
// The tallest tower made of paper
⏱ about 20 min

Wednesday: Build Tower Version 1

Rocket rolls five tubes fast and tapes them end to end.

The tower is tall and skinny, like a pole.

"Wow, that is tall!" Raven says. "Let us test it."

Nova starts her timer. "Ten seconds. Ready, go!"

The tall pole begins to lean.

You need

  • 10 sheets of paper
  • One strip of tape as long as your arm
  • A ruler
  • A timer
Safety first
A grown-up cuts the tape strip if it needs scissors.
Build on the floor or a low table.
Do not climb to reach the top.

Build it

  1. Look at your drawings from Monday.
  2. Pick one idea.
  3. Build your tower.
  4. Let go and count to ten.
  5. Measure from the table to the top.
VersionHow tall (inches)Stood 10 seconds?
Version 1
For a grown-up
Is the tower taller than one ruler?
Mark the top of the ruler with a finger.
Then move the ruler up and keep counting.
WHICH STEP?
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
You pick one idea from your drawings. Which step is that?
You count to ten after you let go. Which step is that?
FOLLOW THE RULES
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
Your tower leans. Can you hold it up with your hand?
You run out of tape. Can you use glue?

Plan where the tape goes

Tape is limited, so use it where it helps most.

Tape each tube closed.

Tape the joins where two tubes meet.

Save some tape for the base.

SMART BUILDING
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
You have only one strip of tape. Where should it go?
Rocket's tower is tall and skinny like a pole. What might happen?
Where do you start the ruler?
IdeaTrue or false?
Each builder uses ten sheets of paper.?
You may hold the tower while you count.?
Version 1 is a first try, not the last try.?
A tower must touch the wall to count.?
WHY THIS EXERCISEEvery builder plays by the same rules.
Draw your version 1 tower. Mark where you put tape.

Version 1 is done. Every first try teaches us something!

Tomorrow, we figure out why.

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