How tall can you go?
In this activity you'll find out how tall a tower you can build using just straws and masking tape. Challenge your classmates to a design competition! Architects and designers have great imaginations. But they can't just build whatever they want to! The challenge is to make an exciting design out of what is available and affordable. Sometimes architects give themselves an extra challenge. That's what you'll be doing when you allow yourself only a few types of materials to build your tower and set a time limit. Not every design project is as limited as yours will be, but every design that is built has its limits. The architects of the Idea Houses tried to design modern houses that were affordable for ordinary people. That meant they had to use ordinary materials and simple building methods. William Purcell wanted a different kind of house for himself - but he had to make sure he could pay for it! He left out some ideas along the way because they were too expensive. You will need: Teams of 3 to 4 students 30 plastic drinking straws per team 3 feet of masking tape per team a pair of scissors for each team Here's how to do it: 1. Each participating team of 3 to 4 students gets 30 plastic drinking straws, 3 feet of masking tape, and a pair of scissors. Do not start until everyone knows the rules! 2. The rules: You have 20 minutes to build the tallest tower you can, which will stand up on its own, using the straws and masking tape. You may cut your straws and tape any way you wish. You may not use any other materials. You do not need to use all your straws and tape. And finally, the structure must stand by itself, without any support! 3. When the 20 minutes are up, compare structures. Which is tallest? What different ways did teams come up with to prevent the tower from falling over? What can you learn from other teams' towers? What would you do differently next time?
Designing Spaces and Places | Inner Worlds | Environment | What is Art | Identity