Project: Building a Tower JOURNAL

Step 1: Identifying and Researching a Need

  • Write a statement that identifies your need for this project. Remember – be specific! If you were to hire this job out, these details would be important.

Step 2: Developing Possible Solutions -- Plan

Based on what your need identified, you will need to decide how you will build your tower. This is part of your journaling process – brainstorming.

  • Draw a detailed and colored picture of your tower.
  • Be sure to list the materials you think you will use.

Step 3: Making a prototype

A prototype, test model of your tower, will be made from your research and brainstorming.

  • Detailed written instructions on how you build the tower.
  • What additional supplies (materials) did you find out you needed?
  • What problems did you encounter? How did you solve them?
  • Actual height of your tower

Step 4: Testing and Evaluating

You should test your tower prior to the final assessment so you know whether “you need to go back to the drawing board.”

  • Are you going to test your tower or wait until class time?
  • If you do test it yourself, does your design support 20 pounds? If not, how much does/did it hold?

Step 5: Modifying and Retesting the Solution

If your 1st prototype doesn’t support 20 pounds, you should modify your design.

  • What do you plan on changing from your original design (modify)? Please sketch it out as well.
  • How much weight does your tower support “officially” at school?

This Journal Counts as a Quiz Grade

TOWER GUIDELINES

Due Date: February 5, 2016

1. Use only 15 craft sticks (4 ½” x 3/8” x 1/12”)and glue (Elmers white glue or wood glue ONLY).

  • There is a 5-point penalty for each extra stick used.
  • No bonus will be granted for any not used.
  • You will drop a letter grade if you use the wrong size craft sticks.
  • You will drop a letter grade if you use any kind of glue besides what is listed above – no type of foam glue.
  • Do not saturate your tower in glue – it may only be used at the joints (where your sticks touch one another). It will also make your tower weak.

2. Tower must be at least 12 inches tall with a minimum of 3 uprights.

  • There is a 5 point penalty for each 1/2" below the height requirement.
  • There is no bonus for anything above 12".

3. Tower must have a flat, level surface on top in order for it to hold a board/weight.

4. Tower must hold 20 lbs for 5 seconds and follow above guidelines in order to receive a 100. (See grading scale below.)

Grading Scale --This is a test grade!!

  • Construction of tower 70
  • Stands on its own (without weight) 75
  • Holds board80
  • Holds board & 5 lbs 85
  • Holds board & 10 lbs 90
  • Holds board & 15 lbs 95
  • Holds board & 20 lbs 100

BONUS: Maximum Score = 110

  • Up to 5 points for decoration (teacher discretion)
  • Up to 5 points for holding extra weight (10 lbs.)

TIPS:

  1. All joints should have flush surfaces before applying glue. Anytime glue is used as a “gap filler”, it dooms the structure! Cut wood precisely (if necessary) and sand so it fits flush.
  2. Make sure structures are symmetric. When building a structure with more than one side, build the two primary sides, one on top of the other. Once the first side is built, cover it with wax paper and build the second side directly on top of the first.
  3. Adhesives do NOT work better if it is “drooled” all over the structure. Use adhesives sparingly where any more than a translucent, moist surface becomes wasted, excess mass.