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Straw Towers Design Challenge

Nicole CozartProgram Coordinator

STARBASE OneSelfridge ANGB, MI

ncozart@starbaseone.org &

Alison Chanley Pre-Service TeacherOakland University

Rochester, MIDownload additional materials, handouts and more at:www.strawtowersdesignchallenge.wikispaces.com

+Design Challenge

You have been brought together as a team of civil engineers to construct the tallest, most stable tower. Your team’s design will be competing for a contract awarded by the city. Before you can be awarded the contract, however, you must develop a prototype of the tower you intend to build.

+Your TaskTo work together as a team

to create the tallest, most stable tower using:

50 straws per team 1 meter of tape1 pair of scissors

Eiffel TowerParis,

France

+Time Intervals

5-7 minutes for research and development; brainstorming, talking, communicating, and sketching initial design.

Three 10 minute intervals for construction.

Two minute discussion periods at the end of each building phase.

+Rules For Tower ConstructionNo talking during the building phases.No taping structure to the floor or table.Tower must be free standing upon

completion. You can’t hold it up!

Each structure will be measured from the base to the highest free standing point.

Each group can ask 2 questions during the building process pertaining to the actual design, process, or rules.

+Example Planning Page

+Alternative Materials

Students may “purchase” alternative or additional building materials during the planning phase. Such as:Design ideas (example blueprints or

design ideas printed out for viewing)Flexible strawsCut straws or pieces of strawsBases (paper, poster-board, cardboard)

+Teaching Strategies Lots of open space

Push tables or desks out of the wayUse the gym, media center or hallway

Kitchen or egg timer for time incrementsCreate penalties for talking during build

phase Could include loss of resources, points,

or height deductionsMusic

+Alternate Teaching Strategies

Job DescriptionsDescribes a

specific job for each team member in order to utilize time more efficiently and to prevent arguments.

Foreperson

Guide the team in making decisions.

Oversee the building of the tower.

Engineer 1

Draw Straw Tower Blueprints.

Build the tower according to the blueprints.

Engineer 2

Draw Straw Tower Blueprints.

Build the tower according to the blueprints

Financial Manager

Inventory materials.

Distribute and monitor use of materials.

+Predictable ComplicationsGroupingMisuse of the resources i.e., scissors Students not following design plansParents/Teacher’s AssistantEspionage/Sabotage; can groups copy

or steal ideas from one another?RushingGiving up

+Engineering Design Process Problem

Describe the problem. Research

Discuss what you know about structures and towers. Brainstorm

Discuss ways to create the tallest tower and sketch a diagram. Choose the best solution. Build it!

Get your supplies and start working. Test it!

Is it freestanding? Is it the tallest? Communicate

What did you learn? Redesign

What changes would you make?

+Conclusion

This activity can be used to teach a variety of curriculum, group dynamics, communication skills, as well as the design and engineering process!

This is a fun hands-on activity that students of all ages find engaging and challenging!

All of the materials are inexpensive and/or readily available to teachers on any budget! Hence, Science on a Shoestring!