Soup Can Tower
Soup Can Tower https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJr2DJRKy5c Days: 1 Mode: Teams or pairs Take-home: Photo/design record; cans reused
Teaching & key ideas
Key concepts: Stability, base width, center of mass, structural patterns, constraints.
Hook: Compare a wide-base and narrow-base stack before students build.
Test / evidence: Tallest free-standing tower that remains up for 10 seconds using the same number/type of cans.
Variables to change: Base footprint; overlap; symmetry; repeating patterns.
Lesson flow
Lesson plan:
Day 1: Demo stable/unstable stacks → teams plan → build → measure → quick redesign
Video:
Tallest Tower: 2021 Engineering Challenge
Safety / cleanup:
Use only cans with smooth, safe edges; towers stay below face height; clear floor before teardown.