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.

Check out the video preview to see what is included in this resource (skip ahead to 5:07 to see what is included in the resource):

Note: If you are in a 1:1 classroom, you may prefer the
digital format, compatible with Google Slides ™.

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 Handouts
  • Post-design extension activities list
  • Link to a video walk-through of the challenge

• Student Handouts
  • Criteria & Constraints List (two versions in color and black & white; editable versions provided)
  • Design Analysis Handouts (3-page regular spacing and 5-page expanded spacing for primary students included) (color and black & white)
  • Discussion Questions (in color and B&W)

• Extension templates
  • Class-wide Data Analysis Activity (editable)
  • Graph Class Data (editable)
  • Design Your Own Tower Experiment (editable & 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:

PRINTABLE MEGA BUNDLE

If you prefer to purchase on TPT, click here. 

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