Engineering Fundamentals · Lesson 1 of 6
Name: ________________ Date: __________
Paper Tower Challenge
The problem
Your team has a stack of paper and a little tape, and one job: build the tallest tower you can that stands up by itself. It has to hold steady for at least ten seconds with nobody touching it. Taller is better - but a tall tower that falls over does not count.
Materials checklist
- Paper
- Tape
- Scissors
- Ruler
- Coins or small weights
Design sketch
Draw your plan and label the parts.
Prediction
What do you think will happen when you test it? What might fail first?
Build notes
Write what you actually built and any changes you made along the way.
Test results
| Test | What to record | Try 1 | Try 2 | Try 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Height test | Height in centimeters | |||
| Stand-alone test | How many seconds it stands before tipping (goal: 10+) | |||
| Wobble test | Does it sway and recover, or fall over? |
What failed first?
What did you change?
Reflection
1. What made your tower stable or unstable?
2. What shape or base worked best?
3. What failed first?
4. What did you improve after testing?
5. How was your second design better than your first?
Extension challenge
Rebuild your tower to hold a single coin at the very top without falling.