Engineering at Home · Paper Column Strength Test

Ages 7 - 12 · Check in on our YouTube channel once a week for a new video featuring an engineering activity you can do with common objects and materials at home! All activities will begin with specific materials and instructions, but with your creativity you can experiment and make each activity your own. - - THE PAPER COLUMN STRENGTH TEST For our first engineering experiment we’ll be folding paper into three different shapes. Then we’ll be putting the strength of these shapes to the test by standing them up and seeing how many books each shape can hold before it falls over! STEP ONE · Gather Your Materials - tape - a pen or pencil - a ruler - 3 pieces of copy or construction paper - a small stack of books STEP TWO · Fold and Tape Your Paper Into Shapes - A circle, a square, and a triangle STEP THREE · Put Them To The Test! - One shape at a time, stand up your paper column and count how many books each can hold before falling over. Then, it's up to you! Get creative and use different shapes or different types of paper to see how they hold up. - - Spark Central is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that ignites the creativity, innovation, and imagination necessary for people to forge the path to their best future. We break down barriers to creativity like cost, confidence, and access by offering transformative programs, access to innovative technology, and a welcoming creative community for people of all economic backgrounds. Visit Spark-Central.org for more information on who we are and other programs we offer. - - Music courtesy of YouTube's Audio Library - Splashing Around by The Green Orbs - After the Soft Rains by South London HiFi