Paper Tower Challenge: Building Solutions ✨ cross-curricular
Teacher: TeacherAI | Grade: 3 | Subject: Science, Reading/ELA | Duration: 45 minutes
📝 Description: Students define a design problem with constraints, compare paper tower solutions, and practice verb tenses while documenting their engineering process.
Standards
- 3-ETS1-1 (Define a simple design problem reflecting a need or a want that includes specified criteria for success and constraints on materials, time, or cost)
- 3-ETS1-2 (Generate and compare multiple possible solutions to a problem based on how well each is likely to meet the criteria and constraints of the problem)
- 3.L.1e (Form and use the simple verb tenses)
- 3.L.1f (Ensure subject-verb and pronoun-antecedent agreement)
Learning Objectives
Students will be able to:
- Define a design problem including specific criteria and constraints on materials and time
- Generate and compare two different tower designs based on how well they meet the criteria
- Use past, present, and future verb tenses correctly when documenting their design process
- Apply subject-verb agreement rules when writing about their engineering solutions
Supplies Needed
- Paper (white)
- Scissors (child-safe)
- Rulers (with halves and fourths of inch)
- Pencils
- Chart paper
Lesson Structure
Opening (5 minutes)
Present the challenge: "Our school needs a paper tower for the library display that is at least 8 inches tall and can stand without falling over." Write this on chart paper. Ask students what they think makes this a problem that needs solving.
Main Activity (35 minutes)
Step-by-step instructions:
- Define the Problem (8 minutes): Guide students to identify criteria (must be 8+ inches tall, must stand alone) and constraints (only 3 sheets of paper per design, 10 minutes building time, scissors allowed). Record on chart paper using present tense: "We need a tower that stands tall."
- Plan First Solution (5 minutes): Students sketch their first tower design and write one sentence using future tense: "My tower will be..." or "I will build..." Emphasize correct subject-verb agreement.
- Build and Test Solution 1 (10 minutes): Give each student 3 sheets of paper. Set timer for 10 minutes. Students build and measure their towers with rulers. Record height if it stands.
- Plan Second Solution (5 minutes): Students sketch a different design approach. Write what they learned using past tense: "My first tower was..." or "It fell because..." Check for subject-verb agreement.
- Build and Test Solution 2 (7 minutes): Provide 3 fresh sheets of paper. Students build their second design and measure results.
Closing (5 minutes)
Students share which solution better met the criteria and why. Have them use all three verb tenses: "My first tower was 6 inches. My second tower is 9 inches. Next time I will make the base wider."
Quick Check: Point to different towers and ask: "Does this meet our criteria? What constraint was most challenging? Use a past tense verb to tell me about your first design."
Formative Assessment
During the lesson, look for:
- Students correctly identifying criteria (tall enough, stands alone) versus constraints (materials, time limits)
- Proper verb tense usage in their written sentences and verbal explanations
- Ability to compare solutions based on how well they meet the established criteria rather than just personal preference
Differentiation Strategies
Support for Struggling Students:
- Provide sentence starters for each verb tense: "Yesterday I..." "Today my tower..." "Tomorrow I will..."
- Allow students to work in pairs for building while maintaining individual writing tasks
- Reduce height requirement to 6 inches if needed for success
Challenge for Advanced Learners:
- Add additional constraints such as "must hold a pencil on top" or "use only folding, no cutting"
- Have them write a complete paragraph comparing both solutions using all three verb tenses
- Challenge them to design a third solution that combines the best features of their first two attempts
ELL/ELD Support:
- Create a word bank with key verbs in all three tenses (build/built/will build, stand/stood/will stand)
- Use visual cues and gestures when introducing criteria versus constraints
- Pair with strong English speakers during sharing time for language modeling
Printable Materials
This lesson uses only classroom supplies - no printable materials required.