Keva Planks for STEM Challenge

Challenge: Build a the tallest Tower of Keva Planks that can support a Smurf or Sponge Bob. 

Every piece is the same. KEVA planks are about 1/4 inch thick, 3/4 inch wide and 4 1/2 inches long. They are cut with precision.  

You build structures by simply stacking the planks. No glue, no connectors. They can be stacked upright which looks like it would be unstable as a house of cards, but even this type of structure is surprisingly stable. 

Questions for Students:  

What made your structure stable or unstable?
What design worked best?
What else could you build with Keva Planks?
How is your final structure different from your original concept?
What can you learn from structures others have built?
How are forces working in your structure?
What did you discover as you built?
What part of STEM instruction are you using?

If you enjoyed this idea you might also like  Inquiry Lesson on the Center of Gravity

Please follow me by clicking the g+ button or follow by email.

You may find me on twitter at https://twitter.com/lywilliams132

You may also like Fog Bubbles 

Special Thanks to Dave Francis http://extension.usu.edu
Please Follow this Blog by clicking the G+Circle button under my photograph or the follow by email button.  

Below is a free Template for your Interactive Notebooks