| Activity | Topic | Grade Level |
Source | Time | Special Materials |
| Arch: Can you figure out the key to the keystone? | Arch | 3-4, 5-6 | ZOOM | 45 min. | n/a |
| Bird’s Nests: Be glad you don’t have to build it with your beak! | Bird’s Nests | 3-4, 5-6 | ZOOM | 45 min. | n/a |
| Cantilever: Canti-what? A cantilever is a structure that sticks out way beyond its base. Build one! | Cantilever | 3-4, 5-6 | ZOOM | 45 min. | n/a |
| *Column: Can you stand on paper cups without crushing them? | Columns | 3-4, 5-6 | ZOOM | 30 min. | n/a |
| Newspaper Chair: Build a chair out of paper that can hold a person. | Chair | 3-4, 5-6 | ZOOM | 45 min. | n/a |
| *Paper Cup Walk: Can you stand on paper cups without crushing them? | Walkway | 3-4, 5-6 | ZOOM | 45 min. | n/a |
| Playing Card Structure: How big a fence can you build using 26 cards? | Fence | 3-4, 5-6 | ZOOM | 45 min. | n/a |
| Space Shelter: Design a shelter to allow humans to survive on a new planet, and explain it in words. | Shelter | 3-4, 5-6 | Teach Engineering | 1 1/2 hrs. | n/a |
| Teepee: Make a teepee you can sit inside! | Teepee | 3-4, 5-6 | Cyberchase | 45 min. | n/a |
| Thrill Ride: Design a crazy roller coaster ride for a marble. | Roller coaster | 3-4, 5-6 | FETCH! | 45 min. | Per team: 3 or 4 marbles; 6' foam pipe insulation tubing, 3/4" or 1" in diameter |
| Columns: Can a toilet-paper tube support your weight? | Columns | 5-6, 7-8 | Building Big | 45 min. | Toilet paper tubes |
| Paper Table: Build a table out of paper that can hold a heavy weight. | Table | 5-6, 7-8 | Design Squad | 45 min. | n/a |
| Speedy Shelter: Invent a sturdy shelter that’s easy to build. | Shelter | 5-6, 7-8 | Design Squad | 45 min. | Per team: 2 cardboard sheets (approx. 8.5 x 11 in.); 16 3-ft. bamboo plant stakes; 3 33- or 42-gal. garbage bags |
| Tasty Arch: Build an arch that supports itself with no mortar. | Arch | 5-6, 7-8 | NOVA | 45 min. | n/a |
*Indicates whether an activity is suitable for a community event. Activities considered appropriate for a large-scale community event are attention-grabbing but simple; use inexpensive materials; require minimal instruction, supervision, and cleanup; and can be modified to take place over a short period of time (about 15-20 minutes).
