By Robyn Kademan and Shawdi Nesbit

By Robyn Kademan and Shawdi Nesbit The purchase of this book entitles teachers to make copies for use in their individual classrooms only. The book, or any part of it, may not be reproduced in any form for any other purpose without prior written permission from Lorenz Educational Press. It is strictly prohibited to reproduce any part of this book for an entire school or school district, or for commercial resale. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. Copyright 2011, Lorenz Educational Press ISBN 978-0-7877-0650-0 for other LEP products visit our website www.lorenzeducationalpress.com

How To Use This Resource General Information The idea behind creating the book Taking Time for Teamwork was to provide teachers with a resource filled with ways to get students to think critically and to work together. The book focuses on group problem-solving activities, which engage students through creative challenges. These activities promote team building, communication and higher-level thinking skills. We have seen the benefits of these activities for students of various ages and across many different curricular areas. The activities in this book can generally be completed in one regular class period (40 minutes or less). For most of the challenges, we recommend that the students work in groups of 3 to 5 people. Each activity is divided into five easy-to-follow sections: Challenge, Supplies, Requirements, Testing and Scoring, and Teacher Notes. These sections are more clearly explained below. In addition, we recommend ending every activity with the Group Processing Questions provided at end of this introduction. Challenge Each activity is based on a challenge or problem for the students to solve. The challenge is clearly stated at the top of each lesson. Supplies The supplies needed for the activities are very basic. Many of the supplies, such as toothpicks, straws, mailing labels, paper clips, etc., are used in more than one of the activities. You can substitute supplies if you are unable to obtain the specific items mentioned in the directions. Requirements The requirements are a list of directions given to the students explaining each challenge. These steps should be repeated multiple times preceding the activity so that every group understands the task. Testing and Scoring We recommend using an attainable group goal for each activity. Depending on the dynamics of your class, you may also want to include a competition aspect. Either way, it is important to test each activity based on the specific scoring criteria provided. The group goal and rules for scoring should be explained before the groups begin working and again prior to the actual testing. Teacher Notes The teacher notes include ideas and tips for teachers who wish to use these activities in their classes. Through trial and error, we have developed these suggestions. Group Processing Questions It is important for the students to reflect on what they have accomplished and what they have observed throughout the team-building process. The following questions can be used with any of the activities to help facilitate a constructive class discussion: What was your group s original plan? Did you stick with it? How did you come up with your plan? What were some of the problems that may have gotten in the way of your group s goal? Did a leader emerge in your group? Who? Why? Which materials were helpful in developing your device? Which were not? Are there any additional materials you would have liked to have had? At what point did your device fail? Why? What worked about the device that won the competition? What would you do differently if you had the chance to complete this activity again? 2

Hanging Contraptions Table of Contents Candy Swing... 7 Build the longest swing that will support a cup containing 20 pennies. Don t Leave Me Hanging... 8 Build a contraption that will allow a tennis ball to hang the closest to the ground from a door jamb. Don t Leave Me Hanging 2... 9 Build a contraption that will hold the largest number of golf balls the closest to the ground from a door jamb. Golf Ball Swing... 10 Create a contraption that will allow a golf ball to swing as high as possible when suspended from a door jamb. Hanging Low... 11 Create a contraption that will hang as close to the floor as possible without actually touching it. Items to Span a Distance Paper Bridge... 12 Build a newspaper bridge that can support the most pennies. Suspension Bridge... 13 Build a suspension bridge that can hold the most pennies. Moving Marbles... 14 Build a contraption to move the most marbles from one table to another in 30 seconds without touching the marbles. Homemade Rope... 15 Create the longest continuous rope. Golf Ball Movers... 16 Build a contraption that will allow you to move golf balls as quickly as possible across a space of 2 meters and into a bucket. World s Longest Bridge... 17 Create a bridge spanning the largest distance between two tables that can hold a small toy car. Over the River and Through the Woods... 18 Create a bridge spanning at least 50 cm and allow a small toy car to travel safely across it with just one push from the builders. Bridge the Gap... 19 Build a structure that spans the space between two tables and can hold weight in a bucket. Cantilever... 20 Construct the longest cantilever possible that extends off of a desk or table. Keep on Rolling... 21 Make a track that spans the distance between two textbooks and can hold a golf ball. 3

Towers Marshmallow Book Rack... 22 Build a contraption that will support a large textbook at a height of at least 3 in. for the longest amount of time. Straw Tower... 23 Create a tower of straws that is at least 0.5 meters tall and will hold at least 500 grams of weight. I ve Never Heard of a 50 gram Tower... 24 Build a tower with a mass of no more than 50 grams that can hold a cup full of pennies. Octopus Tower... 25 Build the tallest tower with eight sides (or supports) that can support a cup full of nails. Marshmallow Tower... 26 Build the tallest tower using marshmallows and toothpicks. Index Card Tower... 27 Build the tallest tower using only index cards. Gum House... 28 Build a house that can support the most pennies. Shaving Cream Tower... 29 Build a tower that is as tall as possible. Don t Fall into the Bottomless Pit... 30 Build a contraption that will support a golf ball as high as possible over a bottomless pit. Watch for Crashing Eggs... 31 Build a contraption that will support an egg as high as possible above a table without breaking the egg. Leaning Tower of Spaghetti... 32 Build the tallest tower of spaghetti that can also support the weight of the most pennies. Double Trouble... 33 Build a structure with two levels that is both tall and strong. Projectiles The Great Ping-Pong Catapult... 34 Build a catapult that will propel a ping-pong ball onto a target. Jellybean Throw... 35 Build a contraption to accurately launch as many jellybeans as possible through a target. Marshmallow Flinger... 36 Build a flinger that will accurately propel marshmallows onto a target to score the most points. Ready for Impact... 37 Build a paper airplane with a compartment that will keep three marbles safe when it is crashed into a wall. 4

Paper Airplanes... 38 Build a paper airplane that will fly or be propelled the greatest distance. Watch for Flying School Supplies... 39 Build a catapult that will propel a paperclip, pen cap and eraser at a target on the floor and score the most points. It s All Fun and Games Until Someone Loses an Eye... 40 Build a contraption that will fling a rubber band at a target and score the most points. Vehicles Balloon Racer... 41 Build a balloon-propelled car that can travel the farthest down a hallway. Tin Foil Car... 42 Create a car completely out of tin foil that can travel 2 meters down a hallway. Car Mover... 43 Create a contraption that will propel a small toy car farthest down a hallway. Tennis Ball-Powered Car... 44 Build a tennis ball-propelled car that can travel as far as possible down a track. Edible Cars... 45 Build the longest car that can travel down a ramp. Balloon Boats... 46 Build a boat that will travel across a kiddy pool as quickly as possible. Don t Sink the Boat... 47 Design and build a boat that will float while carrying the greatest amount of weight. Pulling Items The Claw... 48 Build a contraption that can be used to move items onto a target without entering the playing area. Moving Blocks... 49 Build a sled that will pull ten building blocks the farthest distance. Lift the Bucket... 50 Build a device that will lift a bucket off of the ground. Slides Marble Slide... 51 Build a slide as tall as possible that will drop a marble onto a target and score the most points. Save the Rolling Egg... 52 Build a barrier that will protect an egg from breaking when rolling down a ramp and into a brick. 5

Falling Objects Save the Light Bulb... 53 Design a way to protect a light bulb when it is dropped into a wastebasket that has a brick in the bottom of it. Egg Drop... 54 Create a contraption that will protect an egg from breaking when dropped from the top of a ladder. Parachute Drop... 55 Construct a parachute that will have the longest hang time and the greatest accuracy. Sports-Themed Activities Pinball Bowling... 56 Build a contraption that can propel a ball towards bowling pins and earn the best score. Hot Air Baseball... 57 Build a contraption that will propel a baseball as far as possible in 30 seconds using only your breath. Play Catch... 58 Build a contraption that can catch a tennis ball thrown from 5 meters away. Other Teamwork Ideas Paper Doorway... 59 Create a way to cut a single piece of paper to make the largest opening through which a person can walk. The Amazing Disappearing Water... 60 Create a contraption that will help cause water to evaporate as quickly as possible. Cup Stacking Contest... 61 Create a contraption that allows two people to work together to make a pyramid of cups without touching the cups. Cheerios Necklace... 62 Build the longest necklace of Cheerios in 1 minute without directly touching the Cheerios. Don t Spill the Water... 63 Build a contraption that can carry a full cup of water across a room without spilling it. Pipeline... 64 Develop a strategy to move as many golf balls and marbles as possible down a human pipeline and into a bucket. 6

Candy Swing Challenge Build the longest swing that will support a cup containing 20 pennies. Supplies 15 marshmallows 2 paper clips 3 rubber bands 10 toothpicks 2 licorice sticks 1 cup tape to adhere the swing to the doorway meter stick or metric measuring tape for measurement 20 pennies to use during testing Requirements 1. At least one of each supply must be used. 2. The swing must be completed within the time limit. 3. The cup will act as the seat of the swing. The cup should be attached to the bottom of the swing in a way that it can hold the pennies. 4. All food items, including those not used, must be shown and counted prior to testing your swing. If any item is missing, the team is disqualified from the activity. Testing and Scoring Group goal The contraption must make one full swing to be counted. The swing must be lifted to a point 1 meter from the door jamb. Tape will be provided to hold the swing to the door jamb. Once the tape has been applied, the team has 5 seconds to touch the contraption before the measurement is taken. Scoring The longest contraption that makes a full swing will be considered the winner. The distance will be measured from the tape to the top of the cup. Teacher Notes Goggles are recommended for safety. Things may break under the stress of the added weight. At the end of the activity, let students eat the supplies. At the end of the activity, have students salvage as many of the unused or unbroken supplies as possible for use in other classes or for other activities. 7

Don t Leave Me Hanging Challenge Build a contraption that will allow a tennis ball to hang the closest to the ground from a door jamb. Supplies 8 toothpicks 4 paper clips 2 straws 1 sheet of 8 ½ x 11 paper 2 rubber bands 1 tennis ball masking tape to hold contraption to the door jamb meter stick or measuring tape for measurement Requirements 1. All supplies must be used. 2. The contraption must be completed within the time limit. 3. The tennis ball may not be punctured in any way. Testing and Scoring Group goal The contraption must hold the tennis ball for 5 seconds to be measured. Tape will be provided to hold the contraption to the door jamb. Once the tape has been applied the team has 5 seconds to touch the contraption before measurement. Scoring The contraption that hangs the lowest will be considered the winner. The distance will be measured from the tape to the top of the tennis ball. Teacher Notes Goggles are recommended for safety. Things may break under the stress of the added weight. To make measuring easier, tape two or three meter sticks or a metric measuring tape to the door jamb prior to competition. If a team creates a contraption that is taller than the door jamb, find a taller area to hang it: hallways and gyms work well. If this isn t possible, have a member hold the tennis ball 5 to 10 cm above the floor and tape the contraption at that point. Consider this height the winning height. At the end of the activity, have students salvage as many of the unused or unbroken supplies as possible for use in other classes or for other activities. 8

Don t Leave Me Hanging 2 Challenge Build a contraption that will hold the largest number of golf balls the closest to the ground from a door jamb. Supplies 8 toothpicks 4 paper clips 2 straws 2 sheets of 8 ½ x 11 paper 2 rubber bands golf balls masking tape to hold contraption up meter stick or tape measure for measurement Requirements 1. All supplies must be used. 2. The contraption must be completed within the time limit. 3. The contraption may not touch anything other than the door jamb where the tape is holding it. Testing and Scoring Group goal Each contraption should hang and hold at least one golf ball. Tape will be provided to hold the contraption to the door jamb. Once the tape has been applied the team has 5 seconds to touch the contraption before measurement. Golf balls will be added by a member of the team no faster than one every 3 seconds. Scoring The contraption will be scored by giving 1 point per 20 cm below the doorway x 1 point for each golf ball (ex: 80 cm below the door jamb with 4 golf balls is 16 points). The winner will have the most points. The distance will be measured from the tape to the top of the uppermost golf ball. Teacher Notes Goggles are recommended for safety. Things may break under the stress of the added weight. To make measuring easier, tape two or three meter sticks or a metric measuring tape to the door jamb prior to competition. If a team creates a contraption that is taller than the door jamb, find a taller area to hang it: hallways and gyms work well. If this isn t possible, have a member hold the tennis ball 5 to 10 cm above the floor and tape the contraption at that point. Consider this height the winning height. At the end of the activity, have students salvage as many of the unused or unbroken supplies as possible for use in other classes or for other activities. 9

Golf Ball Swing Challenge Create a contraption that will allow a golf ball to swing as high as possible when suspended from a door jamb. Supplies 1 golf ball 4 rubber bands 2 small paper cups 20 cm of string 3 straws 1 piece of construction paper 10 toothpicks 40 cm of tape meter stick or measuring tape for measurement Requirements 1. At least one of each different item must be used. 2. The contraption must be completed within the time limit. 3. The contraption may not touch anything other than the door jamb where the tape is holding it. Testing and Scoring Group goal The swing will be considered successful if all parts of the contraption make a complete swing without falling off. Tape will be provided to hold the contraption to the door jamb. Once the tape has been applied, the team has 5 seconds to stabilize the contraption before the initial measurement is made (from the door jamb to the contraption). The team will then move the contraption to the height from which they will begin the swing. This is the height from which it will be measured the second time. The height of the swing will be determined by subtracting the initial height from the second height. Each team will have two opportunities to choose a height and attempt a successful swing. Scoring The contraption that swings the highest will be considered the winner. Teacher Notes Goggles are recommended for safety. Things may break under the stress of the added weight. To make measuring easier, tape two or three meter sticks or a metric measuring tape to the door jamb prior to competition. At the end of the activity, have students salvage as many of the unused or unbroken supplies as possible for use in other classes or for other activities. 10