Engineering Design Challenges

Summary: With your team in 20 minutes, construct a table using provided materials that will support a heavy dictionary at least 8 inches off the table for at least 60 seconds.

Materials:

• 1. 20 pieces of newspaper

  2. 3 feet of masking tape

  3. 1 piece of cardboard

  4. 1 dictionary

Restrictions:

• 1. Materials CANNOT be directly taped to the table

Summary: With your team in 20 minutes, build a straw structure that can support a tennis ball above the table for 15 seconds or more. Measure the height.

Materials:

• 1. 25 straws

  2. 3 feet of masking tape

  3. 1 tennis ball

  4. Ruler

Summary: With your team in 20 minutes, build a structure with pipe cleaners that will support a cup with 50 pennies at least 3 inches off the table

Materials:

1. 10 pipe cleaners

2. Small plastic cup

3. 50 pennies

4. Ruler

Inspirational / Related Sites:

1. Based on a lesson by Bethany Ligon

Summary: With your team in 20 minutes, build the tallest tower you can with Legos that will support a tennis ball above a table. Measure the height in inches from the tabletop to the top of the tennis ball.

Materials:

• 1. Tub of assorted Lego bricks

  2. 1 tennis ball

  3. Ruler

Inspirational / Related Sites:

• 1. Based on a lesson from 5 Construction Challenges for Kids With BIG Ideas by Childhood 101