This tower building STEM / STEAM Challenges is perfect for summer – or any time of the year! It brings the joy back to your classroom with collaborative, hands-on, brain-busting work (disguised as fun)!

If you have spare index cards, at least 30 minutes, and a class to inspire, run this challenge as a fun, quick task for a rainy day, or select from multiple options provided to add depth and rigor to extend this activity to days or weeks of active learning!

The basic premise:

Individually, or in partners/groups, students work against a criteria and constraints list to build a tower designed for height and/or stability. You can choose to run the challenge as a single 20-30 minute fun building task, or select from multiple options to add layers of depth and rigor. (Please see the downloadable preview to get an idea of your options.)

Note: Included in this resource is the regular “any time” version and the Valentine’s Day Cards in the Clouds version.

Note: This is the digital format, compatible with Google Slides ™.

For the print version, click here.

Resource includes:

• NGSS aligned standards, Grades 2 – 8

• Teacher Tips:
  • Links to my 5-part video series on getting started with STEM challenges
  • Materials and timing
  • Criteria & Constraints (including modifications to increase difficulty for older students)
  • Measuring results
  • Universal STEM Challenge Notes & How to Use Student Slides
  • Post-design extension activities list
  • Link to a video walk-through of the challenge

• Student Slides
  • Criteria & Constraints List (editable)
  • Design Analysis
  • Discussion Questions

• Extension Slides
  • Class-wide Data Analysis Activity
  • Graph Class Data
  • Design Your Own Tower Experiment (with sample answers)
  • Design Report
  • Create Your Own Word Problems
  • Process Flow Maps

Sample/suggested materials for each student or group:

(Materials you’ll need to do the activity are easily modified. You don’t need to provide all of the following materials. Select a subset and/or add in your own ideas.)

For each student or group:

• 20 or more 3×5 index cards (or substitute business cards, card stock, or poster board)
• Tape (constrain to 12 in. or less)
• Rulers/measuring tapes (tip: pick up paper measuring tapes from Ikea)

Optional:

• Scissors
• Pipe cleaners

This resource is also available in paperless format and as part of the Mega STEM Challenge bundle. Click through below:

If you prefer to purchase on TPT, click here. 

Note: Any coupon codes you received for subscribing to the email are for this site and will not work on TpT.