Strongest Shapes

Experimenting with shapes such as triangles and arches, teams consider which can best support a load without collapsing. They then use index cards and their shape of choice to build a bridge that will support a die-cast toy car.

Time

45 minutes or Less

Careers

Civil

Grade

Topic

Leader Notes Student Instruction Challenge Video

Materials

10 or more 3″ x 5″ index cards
1 roll of tape
A small object for your structure to support (e.g. a toy car, a few blocks)

Instructions

Identify the Problem and Constraints
- How can you build your structure so it can hold a load and not fall down?
  - The load is the weight your structure must support.
- An engineering constraint is a limitation on your design. There is one constraint for this challenge:
  - While you can use tape to hold your index cards together, you can’t tape your structure to the table or floor.
Brainstorm Designs
- Spend a few minutes exploring different shapes you can make with your index cards. Try making a square, a triangle, and maybe even an arch.
- Which shape is the strongest? Find out by pushing down on them and rocking them side to side. Make sure to stand the shapes upright!
Build and Test
- Use your strongest shapes to start building a structure that can hold a load while standing up.
- When you are ready to test, place your small object on top of your structure. What happens?
  - Can you add more weight?
  - Did it collapse?
- If it falls down, no worries. Engineers learn from what isn’t working all the time.
Evaluate and redesign
- What worked and what didn’t? Think about any changes you would like to make. Ask yourself:
  - How can tape make your structure stronger?
  - What would happen if you doubled up the index cards?
Make Changes and Try Again!
- Try to make your structure even stronger.
- Or use the shapes in your design to build a bridge that can hold several objects at once.
Share Your Results with a teacher, parent/guardian, or DiscoverE!
- You can email photos to DiscoverE at social@DiscoverE.org

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10 Comments

Debbi on October 15, 2023 at 1:40 pm

I’ve just discovered this site. Can’t wait to try these with my 5th graders. Love ideas that have them thinking , testing, and creating.
Reply
Christine Butler on October 18, 2023 at 7:43 pm

Looks fun
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DiscoverE helps create activities like this around Dream Big, Structures for children in Elementary School to help prepare them for STEM careers in fields like Civil.

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