Paramaters:
You may only use 8 sheets of newspaper
Your table must be at least 8" from the base
You may only use tape to hold your structure together
Your table must be able to hold the weight of a dictionary
You only have 25 minutes to construct your design
Their goal was to create a paper table strong enough to hold the weight of a dictionary.
I wanted to students to understand that the engineering process is a series of trial and error where changes are frequently made and tested (and retested).
Students brainstormed possible solutions before they began
Let the building begin!
Next Generation Science Standards:
3-5-ETS1-1. Define a simple design problem reflecting a need or a want that includes specified criteria for success and
constraints on materials, time, or cost.
3-5-ETS1-2. Generate and compare multiple possible solutions to a problem based on how well each is likely to meet the
criteria and constraints of the problem.
3-5-ETS1-3. Plan and carry out fair tests in which variables are controlled and failure points are considered to identify
aspects of a model or prototype that can be improved.
