Paper Beam Towers
(Plus Arches and More*)
by Kris Keller, APS Elementary Art Teacher, and
By Jo Tabacchi, APS Elementary Art Teacher
Grades 2‐5
Objectives:
- Students will observe the structural qualities that contribute to tower strength through study of famous world towers.
- Students will work in small teams of 3 or 4 to manufacture newspaper beams. They will then use the beams to cooperatively build a tower that 1)will not fall apart and 2)will stand alone.
- Students will use repeated components to increase the height and strength of their tower.
Resources:
Visuals. Tower of Pisa, Eiffel Tower, Statue of Liberty w/cutaway of interior structure, CN Tower, Watts Towers.
Books. Wonderful Towers of Watts by Patricia Zelver.
Structures: The Way Things are Built by Nigel Hawkes.
Materials:
Newspapers, Discarded paper (junk mail, workroom copy paper), Masking tape, 1 roll per team, Bamboo skewers, 1 per student, Pre‐rolled beams
Vocabulary:
Architecture, tower vs. building, structure, base, geometric shapes, balance
Procedure:
A quick look at the visuals will cover facts about the towers’ heights and history.
‐ building have floors, usually house people or businesses
‐ towers, not measured by floors, usually are for transmission purposes
‐ towers are often broader at the base, narrower at the top
‐ find components in the towers’ structures, looking for geometric shapes
If time, read The Wonderful Towers of Watts.
Demo rolling the paper beams. Starting at one corner, tightly roll the paper around a skewer, moving toward the diagonally opposite corner. Gently wiggle the skewer out and continue rolling paper. Secure with small piece of masking tape. At this point, either discuss the benefits of triangles over squares for strength and stability, or opt to let the groups discover this on their own. Send to teams. Each team must produce 8 to 10 beams before the “freebie” beams are distributed evenly among the groups. As teams work, periodically remind them of how much construction time is left.
Save ten minutes for closure:
‐ a spokesperson can tell how their team approached the problem and what they learned.
‐ Measure the towers’ heights and record. Graph.
‐ Tower strength can be tested by dropping tower from 12” above floor.
Assessment:
Successful completion of challenge will be based on oral quizzing and teacher observation of construction, height/strength. Effort grade based on observation of group participation and cooperation.
*Extensions and variations
Build an Arch. In 2nd hour, teams work to build one large arch using the finished towers from first lesson. Arch history and structure basics are presented through examples of natural and manmade arches. Towers from previous lesson are woven together, bending/collapsing where needed to make two bases, which eventually come together at top to form arch. A separate keystone piece may be built to join the two sides of the arch.
Sculpt with paper beams. Instead of towers, use paper beams to form sculptural pieces, either through cooperative group effort or individually. Animal forms work well in this medium.
NM Visual Arts Performance Standards addressed in this lesson:
Grades 4, 5
Standard 1A.2 Apply the elements of art in assigned visual arts problems
Standard 1B.1 Apply a variety of materials, tools, techniques for producing art
Standard 3B.2 Discover connections between visual arts and other content areas
Standard 4A.1 Solve artistic challenges using preliminary sketches, divergent production and various sources of inspiration
Standard 4B.2 Examine the success of personal/artistic intent in the creation of a work of art
Standard 7A.1 Demonstrate an understanding of the impact of invention on a variety of arts related careers.