Candy Pumpkin Structure
Challenge
The Challenge:
Using candy pumpkins and 20
toothpicks, design
can
hold the
weight of a small pumpkin.
STEM Connections
Science
&
Engineering &
structures
The Big Ideas
Triangles
are
Large bases
math =
technology
physics
=
load
strong.
support
more weight.
Materials:
For
each
Candy pumpkins
Toothpicks
1 ruler
Disposable
surface
plate, or
paper
student
(or
on
which
towels
a
&
shape
distribution &
pair
of
to
work;
structure
that
comparison
building
students):
small paper
Questions that provide hints/guidance during the building process: (Use at your discretion)
How
will your roof affect
the
home’s
ability
to
be
tested?
How
could
you strengthen the
joints?
Since you found
that one triangle
is
good, would
two
be
even better?
How
could
you broaden
the
base to
give the
house
more support?
How
does the
number
of
toothpicks stuck into one gumdrop
affect the
strength
of
the
joint?
It
looks like the
length
of
a
toothpick
limits
you.
Is
a
solution
to
that problem
worth
exploring?
You Decide: It
is
to
provide
gumdrops
that have
students
know
plan
a
bit
more
up
to
you whether
or
not
you
replacements
for
broken
toothpicks
been speared
too
many
times.
they have limited
resources,
they
before
beginning
to
build.
Encourage collaboration and celebrate failure.
students
listing
their
Consider
having
want
or
When
may
attempts
and
learn from one
failures
another.
on
the
board
so
everyone
can
Lab Notebook: When
ever possible,
have students
record
the
process
of
what they are
doing
and learning
in
a
lab
notebook.
Encourage them to
draw sketches,
take
measurements,
and describe
what happens
during
their
testing sessions.
If
digital
cameras
and/or
video
cameras
are
available,
use
these to
help record
the
process.
Included
in
this file
are
two 2
student
labs;
one for
lower
elementary that is
low-­‐level inquiry
and
one for
upper
elementary that is
mid-­‐level inquiry.
Both
are
The
cube is
the
structurefirst
students
that
build.
usually Squares
notoriously
weak and
are
will
fall
under
book’s weight.
the
Extending
toothpick’s
range
a
by
adding
may
also
a
joint be
student’sa
attempt
at
firming
existing
up
an
structure.
Diamonds
can
be
made
the
cube
by
pushing
from
sides and
toothpicks
in adding
the
the
center.
While
to
now
has
it
still
the
home triangles,
very
strong.
is
not
The base
of
structure
this
pentagon,
a
alternating
It
uses
toothpicks,
the
solid
base,
a
up
to
is
NOT
But
this
“answer!”
is
with
triangles.
all
creates
and holds
testing.
the
Build a gumdrop house using the following shapes. Record the house’s height and width in the
measurement column. Then describe what happened to the house after testing.
I predict that the ______________-shaped house will be able to hold the weight of a
book.
Shape
Measurements
Testing Results
square
triangle
diamond
(your choice)
1. What shape made the weakest home?
2. What shape made the strongest home?
3. If you had more gumdrops and toothpicks how would you make your home stronger?
Name
Date
Gumdrop
Challenge
Your challenge: Using
design
a
structure
large textbook.
Check-­­in
Structure
10 gumdrops and 20 toothpicks,
that can hold the weight
of
a
Questions
1. What
structures
construction
have
working? Draw a
Why do
you
work well? Can
you abandon
or
methods
of
you tried that aren’t
sketch
to
help
think this structure
you modify
it,
this structure
all
2. What
planning
What
your
structures
or
method
of
to
include
in
your final
have you found
about
design
meet the
challenge?
Testing
Your Design
3. Draw
Take
a
sketch
measurements
4. Did your
why
your
gumdrop
was the
design
structure
design
could
5. Whether
what
or
did
your design
learn while
not
you
of
and
explain.
doesn’t
or
will
together?
construction
design?
this structure
the
Gumdrop
label these on
are
you
that
will
help
structure
you
your drawing.
will
test.
hold up
under
successful? If
not,
be
improved?
was able
completing
to
this
testing?
If
what aspect
meet the
activity?
so,
of
challenge,
Going
Deeper
6. Describe
a
way
be
tested
to
structures
could
7. With
you
8. As
strong,
be
(both
in
which
show varying
actually
be
more toothpicks and
make to
test for
you consider
what
provide
a
few
able to
observe
indoor
and
the
gumdrop
results
so
“measured” for
homes
could
that the
their strength.
gumdrops, what modifications
strength?
made
your design
both
engineering elements
that you
in
structures
in
your own
outdoor).
would
weak and
might
environment