6th Grade Chopsticks Structures
Ron Sung | Posted on October 22nd, 2008 in Science. 
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The challenge: Create a structure capable of supporting weight.
The rules: Use only disposable chopsticks and rubber bands.
Timeframe: Three class periods (40 minutes each)
Awards:
- Structural Award – the structure can support the most weight
- Teamwork Award – every group member actively participates in the project
- Environmentally Friendly Award – the structure uses the least amount of material
- Aesthetic Award – chosen by a panel of teachers
Other requirements: Students spend five minutes at the end of class writing a reflection as well as a final paper describing how they built their structure and their structure’s uniqueness, strengths, and weaknesses.
Questions:
“Can we use our own chopsticks?” – No
“Can we use tape?” – No
Okay, let’s begin.
Students weren’t very creative at first. Most of them saw a cube structure in their science textbook and copied it.
By the second class period, the project turned into an arms race of innovation and design. On average, groups dismantled their structure and started over five or six times each, especially when students saw other groups conducting initial tests of their structure.
First Round: Eight Dictionaries (100% success)
Second Round: Teacher Kiel (only two groups survived)
The Aftermath: Students spent twenty minutes after the contest reflecting about the project and their structure, why it failed or why it didn’t, and what they would do differently if given another opportunity.
Modified
Wei Ji Ma says:
Added on October 26th, 2008 at %I:%M %pVery nice! Ting Zhou taught something similar in Hebei Yixian during VP06 – one class about building bridges and one about building towers. Quite impressive that two of the students’ structures could hold a person’s weight.
Kathy Hoekenga says:
Added on November 10th, 2008 at %I:%M %pWonderful! We are going to try to do the same activitiy next week with the Trinity 5th graders so they can compare results with their Guan Ai penpals! We won’t show them your photos until the end so they can’t copy. Having a teacher sit on the structure will be real challenging- especially if it’s me (I may find someone who is lighter!) We’ll let you know how it goes. Thank you so much for this great idea and the complete write-up.