STEM Challenge: Magnidude Is Shaking Our Statues
Hook, Challenge, and Constraints
Hook
I’m taking cover because we’re being attacked by a super villain. His name is Magnadude, and he’s been causing earthquakes deep under the ground all day. And it gets worse! The three traffic-jam trolls are with him — Blame Troll, Complain Troll, and Give-Up Troll! These trolls are nasty. They smell like broccoli and have sticky claws with long, dirty fingernails. Superhero Metropolis had some really cool statues that fell and were badly damaged. Our challenge today is to build better statues. Let’s make them as tall as we can and so strong that not even Magnadude’s earthquakes can knock them over.
Challenge and Constraint
Our challenge today is to build better statues. Let’s make them as tall as we can and so strong that not even Magnadude’s earthquakes can knock them over.
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
