Adelie's Tower

My daughter, Adelie, and her tower.  Four marbles at 9 inches and one at 15 inches - disqualified by the judges.  I awarded her 14,337 points.  She is appealing the ruling.

Reflection from February 3 class

Let me start off by saying I never built with blocks as a child, nor have I constructed anything in my life.  I also am terrible about reading through all of the directions ( I hope I am not alone in that!).  So, my tower is a sad affair to be sure.  However, I did get it to support all seven marbles.  I could have saved myself some straws, I used four too many.  The height of my tower was 8 inches.  It did hold all seven marbles and it was constructed using all but three of the straws.  The equation I believe was to take the number of unused straws and multiply that by the height of the tower minus 5 all to the power of the number of marbles held.  So,  (3 straws unused) * (8 inches - 5 ) ^7.  
(3) * (3)^7 = (3) * (2187) = 6,561.
What should I have done differently?  Well, not waiting until my age to decide to really look at construction would have helped.  I also should have taken a few moments to read the equation to see how to be more successful.  Third, I could have removed some of the straws once I realized that they didn't serve a purpose.  I did like the stability of my triangular shape.  It actually was pretty stable and I could support a pair of scissors and a small stapler before it toppled.  The weak spot was the left hand corner because the joint wasn't secure and I should have added a triangular support system around the center of the tower to keep it from twisting.
I will add that there were several fifth grade boys in my room watching me construct this tower, and they really wanted to grab the straws and do it for me.  They were not impressed but offered me "better luck next time" encouragement.

Reflection 4: Tower Assignment

Sara L.

                                                                             

Description of Design:

Building the tower was fun, though I will admit I often struggle with the design process.  Coming up with a plan to build something is a challenge for me.  My husband helped me get started because quite honestly otherwise I would have sat there frustrated for 10 minutes.  We discussed starting with using triangles.  Which was interesting because when I had my students build bridges I recall them discussing how triangles would be a better base than basic squares.  So, we decided to use triangles and to construct a three dimensional base as well (triangular pyramid).  Then in order to have the tower go up we taped the straws on the sides of the base with the bendy part taped down.  This way the tower had some give.  Then, as you can see in the pictures, we used triangles for support at each point where we connected straws.  On the top are 7 seven marbles in a small triangle.   They are pushed into the triangle and taped for extra support.

Tower:

27 1/2 inches tall

3 unused straw, 27 straws used

7 marbles used 

Calculations for Tower:

Unused straws X (straws used -5)^#marbles used =

3  X (27 ½ - 5) ^7 =

3 X (22.5)^7 =

3 X 2,919,292,602.54=

Final Score:  8,757,877,807.62

Failure Analysis:

The tower successfully held 7 marbles for the remainder of the class period; I didn’t want to break it.  After class I had every intention of testing the weight further, however the tower succumbed to a 4 year old and her towel.  The top of the tower was small so it would have been difficult to add more weight to the tower.  I suppose I could have added some additional marbles on top.  It sort of reminds me of the game “Jenga”.

Taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jenga

Improvements:

First, I think I would come into the task with a better attitude.  I don’t feel very confident in my design and building skills so I initially sat there and thought I would not have any pictures to post.  Then my husband agreed to help me get started.   I think collaboration was an important piece for me.  Without being able to talk things out with someone else would have made the task of building this tower much more difficult.  So, if I ever implement this lesson with students I would do the assignment in groups. 

Also, I did not really pay any attention to the formula.  If I were to do this again I would look at the information I was given first, then begin planning and building.  I think I was so worried about the time factor that I completely forgot to look at the information I was given, thus missing a big part of the design process.  Research needs to be completed first, then you can begin to design a plan and build. 

Finally, I try to listen in class but find myself distracted by my family.  I guess I thought we were supposed to use as many straws as possible.  I am glad I did not use them all since that would have resulted in a score of zero.  So, I think I would listen better next time around. 

This was a neat lesson.  Thanks for sharing!

 

Triangular Prism Tower

My structure was made by sliding the end of one straw into the next connecting a total of four straws to complete a rectangle shape. I then created two additional rectangles of the same size and fashion before securing all three together with tape to form a large triangular prism shaped tower.  To carry the load, the top platform was created by cutting and taping straws to fit under the top railing which would neatly hold all the marbles securely in place.  My tower continued to hold the marbles until my cat decided to play with the straws in the middle of the night.

Although this design was stable enough to hold all seven marbles that were provided for this activity, it would need major adjustments for heavier and bulkier weight.  I would add diagonal supports to prevent it from swaying and make the base wider then the top (no longer a triangular prism).  For greater holding strength I would lay the platform above the top rail instead of under it and add a boarder around the perimeter to prevent the marbles from rolling off the platform.  

This was a fun activity and I look forward to trying it in the classroom.

Specs:

Tower Height = 10.5”

Number of whole unused straws = 14

Marbles Held = 7

14 x (10.5 - 5)^7 = 2,131,409 points  

    My goals and strategies: Get out of timer watching mode, (total deer-in-the-headlights mode) build something with triangles, build something that can stand upright and maybe hold marbles in the allotted time frame. My strategy was to form a basic picture in my head and then try to make it real.

   Results: 6 left over straws, a tower that was 11 inches to the marble platform, platform that could easily hold 7 marbles, possibly more but I didn't have any. No comments :)

    Score: 6 x (11-5)6^7 = 1,679,616      

 When I left my office, the tower was still standing but had fallen over by the time I returned this morning.  It had come apart at one of the corner joints that I hadn't taped well.  I also hadn't braced it properly at the bottom so the base was made out of squares rather than rectangles.  I would definitely change that aspect in the future.  The squares deformed just like in our lecture! Hands-on learning!  I was really curious to know how long my structure actually stood and wondered if the amount of time a structure lasts could be factored into the score. Next time: more triangles!  

    The one thing that I would do again is make a tape platform to put the marbles on.  I taped it just a little bit loosely and it held the marbles well without them rolling off.  It was also large enough to hold a lot of marbles as well to and I would have liked to have explored that some more.  

    As usual my brain was full when I left Blackboard last night! As a teacher, I really love that these lessons and concepts are recursive in the fact that they go back and forth between adult, real-world, applications and real-world applications with children of all ages. Comparing the Engineering Design Cycle with the Science Learning Cycle and even with the Writing process helped me create an in-road in my head to help students see how connected all the things we do are.  When Lori talked about how engineering students really are not into the communication part of their learning, I was surprised because the writing process and the engineering design process are so similar that it seems counter-intuitive to not be good at both processes. I know I'll be using that Design Cycle slide to help make those connections with students.  

Straw and Marble Structure

 

So my pitiful little straw structure got the job done but given time, changes would be made!

The design that first came to mind was a trapezoid base with system of slots that would hold the marbles. After building it, I realized that an additional straw at the front of the base would provide more stability. I also would try to make the surface more of a lattice type structure that would hold more marbles. 

I did not understand the implications of the grading formula. I was more concerned with finishing something within the 30 minute time period. I still would not build a tower but I would have tried to add more marbles since they represent the exponential factor in my score.

My structure from base to marble was 6 inches. I had 19 unused straws and my structure held 7 marbles giving me a score of 47045881 (If I pressed the correct button on the calculator).

Straw Tower - Heather D

     When I started working thinking about my straw tower, I decided I was going to use a triangular design.  This would lessen the straws needed because I would only have three sides instead of four.  I started by using slip joints and attaching three straws together to make the height.  (I made three of these.)  I then decided to make the braces at the top of the tower which is where I would put the marbles.  It did not need to be big because I only had 7 marbles.  I'd come back and make the platform later.  I started at the top, so that if I ran out of time, I could pull a straw off the bottom and make it shorter, but would have my platform more or less ready for the marbles.  I then went and put braces lower.  If I had time, I would put cross braces to strengthen the structure, but felt it would be okay for marbles without.  In the end, I was able to put the supports, but not the cross braces.
      As time ran out, I used the extra pieces of the straws to make a platform and side railings for the marbles to sit on and stay inside at the top of my structure.  We loaded it up with marbles, and it sat there until the end of class.  I was even able to put 3 more marbles in it, but ran out of room for anything else.  I did attempt to put a book on top of it, but it started to fall, so I took the book off.  It was bending at the bottom where the straw was bendy.  In hindsight, had I taped up those parts - or cut them off, the structure would have been more rigid.

Had I had more time, I would have done more measuring and more math.  The only thing I measured was the length of the straw pieces that went horizontally to form the braces.  I made sure the three at "the same height" were the same length.  However, I did not measure the height.  This would have helped keep things more structurally sound.  As well, I should have used similar figures to decide how long to make them.  Instead, I just decided to cut them based on a guess.  The bottom ones were the straws with the bendy part cut off.  The top ones were 1.5 inches,  the next ones down were 3 inches I think and the third row down were 5 inches (I think)

     As for the score, I had 12 unused straws, and the bottom of the marbles was at a height of 20 inches, and I'll only count the 7 marbles, because that is what we were given.  This gave me a score of 12 x (20-5)^7.  or 12 x 15^7.

So, my score is 2,050,312,500  Yahoo!!

   I thought this was a great activity, however I felt a little bit of anxiety.  I am a person who wants to do something right and the best way possible, and realized that I did not automatically know the best way to do it.  I realized this reminds me of some of the feelings my students get when they are asked to do things.  However, I finally decided to just dive in and go because it was more about the experience and the effort than the end result - really.  However, I still wanted to get the best score.

Future in tower design, I think I'll stick to my day job.

When I opened the kit I was instantly taken back to 7th grade wood shop and my winning toothpick bridge. My partner and I built bridge that supported more weight then any other bridge in the class, so remembering I thought to myself -I got this. My confidence was quickly shattered when I started building the straw tower.  

 
I quickly enlisted the help of fellow teachers; we knew we needed to have a strong base and supporting straws to hold the weight. I thought a square base would be good and then use supports in the form of an x. I wanted to create the same shape several times, but time and uneven straws disagreed with that.  I think the "stress" of only thirty minutes had me pressured.  I had a grand plan, but time and it seems my cutting/taping skills got in the way of that plan.  I have done a similar activity with my students but would do it again with more thoughts on how to direct them.  

 
This was the only picture we could get while it was still standing.  

 
Looking back on the structure there are a few things that made the structure not the best.  It was hard to get the structure to stand up straight.  We began to call it the leaning tower of straws.  This was due to the fact that the straws were not cut equally or the tape was not placed correctly.  Also if I had a chance to re-do I would make the base larger so it stood up better or a triangle base. 

 
Here is my score for what I feel is my not so successful tower,

score=(#unused straws)x(tower height-5)^marbles held
score=(12)(8.5-5)^7
score=(12)(3.5)^7
score=(12)(6433.93)
score=77,207.16

Why is the tower leaning?

30 minutes and my lack of creativity, not a good combination.  I found myself faced with a pile of materials and no plan.  So, I did what I do best, I started and let the momentum take me where it went.

I decided to build a tripod, as a triangle is the strongest shape.  I slide the tops of the straws together creating slip joints at the top for the load area.  Then I created nice strong triangular structure on the side.  Please notice that I wrote side.  By the time I finished the first side, I realized that I was down ten minutes already.  So the other two sides received horizontal cross braces but not diagonal cross braces.  

After I built the first top section, I realized that my tower was not tall enough.  So I "shoved" three straws into the legs to create a taller tower.  I decided the best way to strengthen the tower was to use copious amount of tape (sort of like some people who wrap some Christmas gifts)

Now the problem of how to get the marbles to balance on top of the tower.  I ended up taping small straws in the center of the triangle with other straws as edges.  

I was able to place six marbles on the top.  

I had 11 left over straws from my building.  

My tower, at the point that the marbles are sitting was 10.5".  

Final score 

11 x (10.5 - 5)^6 

11 x 5.5^6

304,487.0469

My tower would hold something heavy, it wouldn't break, it would tip.  My bottom three legs are not even, it would just take a clip of the scissors to fix that problem.  The taped tower will hold up to a baseball (not a bowling ball, I don't think I could get it to balance).  What finally destroyed my tower, the demise of my piece of work?  My two and half year old grandson grabbed the tower off my desk and started to pull straws out of the slip joints.

What would I do different if I had the chance?  I would get those legs even on the bottom and I would extend the holding sides, on top, out further.  I probably would be able to hold the seven marbles.  If I was teaching this lesson I would probably provide the students with a materials list and an idea of what the project would involve.  Then I would ask them to sketch a drawing (hopefully to scale) before I actually gave the materials to build.  I do believe that the 30 minutes of building would be long enough. 

Overall view of the assignment.  I loved it, after I was able to get over the initial "block" that I encountered.  It was wonderful to have a class where I felt like I was actually participating.  Usually I sit in class and grade papers or crochet, not in this class, I have to (and want to) pay attention. 

Tower of Straws - Lexie

My process for Tower of Straws

            I loved this activity!  The only thing that I found was that I wanted more time and I wanted to know if I got a good tower!  My competitive side came out, which was pretty funny.

            To start, I decided to make a basket to hold my marbles.  I only made it big enough to hold the 7 marbles.  If I new we could make it bigger to hold more, I might have tried that.  I made it by laying to pieces of marbles parallel and taped them about 1 inch apart, trying to make a hammock.  Once I had the basket made, I attached 4 small straws to see if it would stand up. 

            After I got the first tower to stand up, I decided to add more straws by inserting the straws into the base of the 4 initial straws.  When I added these additional straws, I saw that it was not stable, so I add perpendicular bars on opposite sides of my tower (only two sides) and the same idea lower on the structure, on the 2 sides that didn't have the perpendicular bars.

            Because I still had 5 more minutes, I added another set of straws!  It was a rush against the clock, but I was able to add the needed support to make it stand!  My final height from base to the bottom of the marbles was 17.5 inches and I was able to hold all 7 marbles.  

Score Calculation:   13(17.5 - 5)^7  My final score was 619,888,305.7!  That is huge!  I was super happy.

I didn't really do my failure analysis because my tower didn't fail.  I'm sure if I tried to add more marbles, it wouldn't work because the basket I made would only hold a couple more marbles.  If I had more time and made it taller, I am sure that it would have needed more supports, but for what I did it was fine.

If I were to do this activity again, I probably would have measured the straws more accurately and tried to tape them in the same location.  Towards the end I got better at taping the straws together, because I was ripping the tape in half so that I had long skinny pieces, which made it easier to secure the straws.  Next time I would also get rid of the curved parts of the straws, that would probably help with the stability too.