Skyscrapers Hands-On Activity


Skyscrapers Inquiry Unit

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Skyscrapers Hands-On Activity

Prompt for the students:
Using only the materials provided, teams of students will design and build a structure as tall as possible using the materials supplied (same materials for each group). The activity can be framed as a competition (for tallest structure, as measured vertically from the tabletop)) if appropriate.


Materials

Per group/student:

  • Table or desktop for each group
  • 25 sticks of spaghetti per group
  • 1 large marshmallow per group
  • 1 yard of masking taper per group

 


Procedure

  1. Divide students into groups of 3 or 4.
  2. Explain the rules:
    1. Build as tall a structure as you can in time allotted (15 minutes is good, but could be any amount) with marshmallow on top
    2. Use only the materials provided
    3. The materials can be subdivided (the marshmallow on top can be a piece of the original marshmallow)
  3. Call time and measure the structures
  4. Relate this activity of the challenge of having to build up during a period of urbanization such as the industrial revolution
    1. Have the students consider how they were constrained by both the types of raw materials and the amounts of raw materials available.
    2. Have the students consider how they were constrained by time
    3. Was there more than one possible solution, given the same materials? Were some better than others? Why? What were some possible trade-offs in choosing a solution?

When engaging in the IEEE REACH hands-on activities contemplated in the IEEE REACH lesson plans please proceed with caution and use all reasonable safety measures. All IEEE REACH hands-on activities are designed for classroom use only, with supervision by a teacher or an adult educator. Please be advised that IEEE shall not be responsible for any injuries or damages related to the use of these lesson plans or any activities described herein.