All School Challenge #2

Beginning the Week of 4/6 through Passover Break

​Welcome to your second all school challenge. This week we will be tower building with non-traditional materials. Please watch the intro video below.

Challenge Guidelines:

• You goal is to build the tallest tower you can.
• A height measurement begins on the surface you place the first item on. If you build on a table. The table height does not count toward the tower height.
• You must use non-building, building materials. No Legos or other blocks/construction kits. You must use ordinary, household objects.
• Do not use breakable items. Towers fall. Be safe.

Here are some photos of my tower below. Mine was about 70 inches. Can you outdo me?

Here are some questions to consider after you've built your tower. You can write them down, talk about them, or just think about them to yourself:

• What role did weight of the items you used play in the building of your tower?
• What role did shape of the items you used play in the building of your tower?
• What roles did size of the items you used play in the building of your tower?
• What role did symmetry play in the building of your tower?
• What ideas for building your tower were most successful?
• What was your worst idea? What did you learn form that idea?
• What would you do differently if you did this challenge again?

If you want to learn more about some famous skyscrapers and how tall structures are built. Check out the links below:
​How High Can Skyscrapers Go?
How Do Skyscrapers Work?
​This piece on the Statue of Liberty also offers interesting insight on how tall structures were constructed.




Please take a picture of your tower and have an adult email it to me [email protected] or, if your adult is comfortable, you share on Twitter or Instagram using the hashtags #sfbrandeismakes.