Disposable surface on which to work; small paper plate, or paper towels.
Procedure
The challenge: To construct a structure with your materials that will hold a textbook.
FOR PRIMARY MEMBERS
Provide the members with a step-by-step layout to building a structure that will succeed. Prepare beforehand with testing out some designs yourself, or looking online.
FOR JUNIOR MEMBERS
Introduce the importance of shapes when building structures
Have students predict which shape they think will do the best
FOR SENIOR MEMBERS
Introduce the challenge, explain how the houses will be tested (show the book), and then have them begin.
No additional talk or help!
Encourage students to rebuild.
Science Behind It
The main takeaways from this challenge should be that triangles are strong building structures, and that a structure with a large base holds more weight easier.
Tips
This is less of an experiment with a clear set of directions, and more meant to be a creative experience that involves critical thinking and learning by doing. This project can also be done with raw spaghetti and marshmallows, pieces of paper and paper clips, and a variety of other things. You can even have members do a couple and see which materials they found worked the best so they can learn about the importance of materials in engineering.