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Back to Educator Index | Skyscraper Challenge Educator Support
Here's the challenge: getting the newspaper to stand up, without using tape, staples, glue, or other materials. But you can bend, fold, or tear the paper itself.
- 10 minutes
- 2 sheets of newspaper
- ruler
Make a prediction about how tall a tower you can build. What is your prediction based on?
- Now construct your tower. If you think you can make it taller, keep redesigning it until you can't go any higher.
- When you are finished building, measure the height of your tower.
How did your result compare to your prediction? Explain what the reasons might be for any difference. What seemed to limit how tall you could build your tower? If you could use one other material to make your tower taller, what would it be? Why would you choose this material?
- How much taller can you make the tower if you now can use 20 cm of tape? How tall can you make the tower and have it support the weight of a pack of chewing gum?
- How well does your tower withstand environmental forces? Use a fan to imitate wind gusts, or shake the table gently to imitate an earthquake. How can you change your design, using two sheets of newspaper and 20 cm of tape, to better withstand these forces?
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