Paper Towers

Lesson 1

o Design Brief: Working in pairs, build the highest free-standing tower you can.

o Constraints: You are limited to 5 sheets of copier paper and 6” of scotch tape per tower

o Performance criteria: The tower must stand for at least 30 seconds.

• A: At Least 50” tall

• B: At Least 40” tall

• C: At Least 30” tall

Next Class: Re-design

Clean-up

Summarize: What did you find? Dismiss from seats.

Lesson 2- Using a jig to roll paper(technology)

• Prep:

• Paper in packets

• Cut dowels in 2

• Scissors

• Tape- no fixed amount; squares of aluminum tape String

Assign Partners

• Review Issues:

  • Redundancy

  • Importance of Side Support- demonstrate with pole held at bottom—acts as hinge

  • Think: How can we create side support?

Today I will show you the technology for building paper towers:

Demonstrate Rolling technique with a half-sheet

Demonstrate joining technique w/metal tape or glued paper tape

Demonstrate interfacing supports with center to make a tripod

Lesson 2 or 3:

o Demonstrate guy wires with string