Grades 2–5
Paper Bridge Challenge
An engineering challenge: fold a paper bridge between two stacks of books and see how many pennies it holds.
Science worksheet · Simple machines and engineering
Paper Tower Challenge
An engineering challenge: plan, build, test and improve the tallest tower from ten sheets of paper.
- Grade level
- Grades 2–5
- Time
- About 45 minutes
- Answer key
- Not needed: answers vary
- Kids practice
- Simple machines, Engineering design, Forces
What kids do
Printed on the sheet:
- The challenge: build the tallest tower that stands on its own for 10 seconds. You get: 10 sheets of paper, 1 meter of tape, scissors and 20 minutes.
- What makes a tower strong and tall?
- Build it. Height:
- List two ideas.
- Draw your best idea.
- What will you change?
Teacher tip
Give a strict time limit. The plan and improve steps matter as much as the tower.
How to use it
- Bring in a ramp, a screw, a wedge and a pulley from the toolbox.
- Let kids test a lever with a ruler and a pencil before they write.
- Let partners compare answers and settle any differences with a book or a video.
Watch for
Kids who judge a design by looks. Ask what the test results showed.
Talk about it
- What would you change to make your design better?
- What evidence helped you choose your answer?
Take it further
Hold a class build day with recycled boxes and tape.
US Letter, prints well in black and white. Free for home and classroom use: print as many copies as you need.
More simple machines and engineering worksheets
Grades 3–5
Ramp and Car Experiment
Roll a toy car down a ramp at three heights, measure how far it goes, graph it and explain.
Grades 2–4
The Six Simple Machines
Label the lever, pulley, wheel and axle, inclined plane, wedge and screw.
Grades 2–5
Simple Machines All Around
Name the simple machine in ten everyday things, from a seesaw to a jar lid.
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