Straw Tower Challenge
Build a tower only out of straws!
Think of tall buildings or skyscrapers - engineers design them to be tall but have to make them stable so they are safe. This activity is a design challenge to build the tallest and most stable tower possible using only 10 paper straws and tape.
What You Need
Materials per student
- 10 paper straws
- Tape
- Scissors
Guide:
Safety Notes
Ensure you are familiar with Let's Talk Science's precautions with respect to safe virtual outreach to youth.
What To Do
- Before students start building, discuss what constitutes a stable structure.
- Have students sketch their design before building (optional).
Challenge rules:
- They may cut the straws and use them however you'd like.
- The tower has to be stable - so it can't wobble or lean to one side.
- They can only use straws and tape. Nothing else can be used to make the tower more stable or taller.
Discovery
All buildings, especially tall ones, need to be stable and strong enough to support a log of weight and also to be stable when it's really windy. The wider the base, the more stable the structure, but also having more weight or mass near the base will help you build a taller tower! Engineers do this when they build tall buildings by putting heavy concrete for the foundation (or base) of a tall building.
What's Happening?
All buildings, especially tall ones, need to be stable and strong enough to support a log of weight and also to be stable when it's really windy. The wider the base, the more stable the structure, but also having more weight or mass near the base will help you build a taller tower! Engineers do this when they build tall buildings by putting heavy concrete for the foundation (or base) of a tall building.