STEM Challenge: Arachnikid Needs Skyscrapers
Hook, Challenge, and Constraints
Hook
Welcome to New York, home to some of the tallest buildings in the world — skyscrapers! It’s also the home of the newest resident of Superhero Metropolis, Arachnikid. She uses strong, stretchy strands of bubblegum to swing from skyscraper to skyscraper and catch bad guys on the run. But when she was trying to catch the Windsurfer, after he had stolen the mayor’s top hat, she couldn’t catch him because Superhero Metropolis has no skyscrapers.
Challenge and Constraint
Your mission today is to make some totally sweet, sturdy skyscrapers.
Materials
You may also provide these optional materials: cereal boxes, toilet paper rolls, Dixie cups, and aluminum foil.
Logistics
- Materials: Students can use no more than five of any one material per creation! For example, a student can use five straws and five pieces of paper, but not ten straws. If you provide aluminum foil, no more than one arm’s length piece for each student!
- Groups: Students can work with a partner or on their own. No groups of three!
- Time to Build: 45 minutes
