Polytechnic School: A Simple Design Challenge

Students in Poly’s engineering class recently participated in a simple design challenge. The task was to build the tallest freestanding tower they could in 18 minutes. Each group of three to four students was given the same supplies: five 8×11″ sheets of paper, a few paper clips, a cereal bowl, tape, one plastic knife, and a pair of scissors. The tallest tower would win the competition and the team that completed their tower first would get a 10-inch bonus added to their tower’s height. The bonus increases the need for speed but often leads to more interesting design choices.

Polytechnic School, 1030 E. California Blvd., Pasadena, (626) 396-6300 or visit www.polytechnic.org.