Strong Shapes

Add to list Go to activity
Activity link broken? See if it's at the internet archive
Is a square stronger than a triangle? Use tongue depressors to build simple shapes. Then apply a little weight to them and see what happens! This activity comes with useful tips for building the shapes, like how to drill the wood without cracking it, and what drill works best.

Quick Guide

Preparation Time:
Under 5 minutes
Learning Time:
5 to 10 minutes
Estimated Materials Cost:
1 cent - $1 per student
Age Range:
Ages 4 - 8
Resource Types:
Activity, Demonstration, Model
Language:
English

Materials List (per student)

  • tongue depressors
  • brads
  • string
  • scissors
  • hand drill
  • drill bits

Keywords

Subjects

  • Engineering and Technology
    • Technology
      • Construction
  • Mathematics
    • Geometry
  • The Nature of Technology
    • The Design Process

Informal Categories

  • Arts and Crafts
  • Outdoor Activity

Audience

To use this activity, learners need to:

  • see

Learning styles supported:

  • Involves hands-on or lab activities

Other

Components that are part of this resource:

This resource is part of:

Access Rights:

  • Free access

By:

Rights:

  • All rights reserved, Science Museum of Minnesota, 1995

Funding Sources:

  • Unisys
  • Science Learning Network
  • National Science Foundation