Bridges and buildings must be made of strong materials and also skillfully constructed. Some forms make structures more robust than others. These simple investigations are excellent to learn about strong forms and Stable structures in a fun and practical way.
A structure is a building made of several different parts.
Stable structure and construction research for children
Most activities can be adapted below for different ages. Younger children will need more orientation and supervision than older children, who could have the activity established as a more open Stem challenge.
1. Build a marshmallow and spaghetti structure.
TO Malvavisco and Espogeti structure It is a fun (and sticky) form of learning about stable structures. Experience with squares and triangles in the tower to find out which is the strongest building.
You can see in the image below that we had to place the spaghetti diagonally through the squares to avoid collapsing.
We have also created a Easter Palpilla Tower/Spring Version of this activity using plasticine and toothpicks to build towers for mini pollitos.
2. Build an arc of sugar cube
TO sugar box It is another messy way of learning about strong forms. You can see that we form the cubes slightly to fit carefully.
3. Strong columns
Discover why columns are often used to admit buildings with a Greek Architecture Stem Challenge. The activity implies standing in paper vessels, so it will even keep the most reluctant engineer and perhaps even surprised.
4. Strong ways
This simple scientific activity uses folded paper columns in different ways to discover What is the strongest?.
Simply create the columns and stack books at the top until they collapse. A column in particular should be much stronger than the others.
5. How strong is an egg peel?
Discover Why the domes have such a strong shape Using half egg peels! It can be a bit difficult to do the domes, but it is worth the effort!
6. Gingerbread structures
Design, Compilation structures and tests made of gingerbread To find out what sticky substances they keep them better.
7. Paper Arch Stem Challenge
This activity uses paper between books to try a floor and Arc bridge To determine which can contain the greatest load.
8. Edible foundations – Earthquake stem challenge
This delicious earthquake research Use different edible foundations (Jelly, Brownie and Flapjack) to find out what better supports a toothpick tower during a simulated earthquake.
9. Candy House’s Slaughter Challenge
This Candy House Stem Challenge It is delicious and a great learning activity too! Use sweets to build a house and try different sticky materials to keep it together.
More construction and stability of children’s structure activities
Little Bins for Little Hands has a brilliant Paper Cup Construction Activity.
Can you design an activity to find out what materials are the most flexible?
Raising students for life has a brilliant Mini Demolition Ball Challenge.
For the first years, children in the garden of infants and preschool, take a look at me Scientific ideas for a construction topic mail.
Last update on May 11, 2023 by Emma Vanstone
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