Mai Lesson
Engineer Your Skyscraper
Science · 30 min · Ages 12-15 · Middle school · Your child and Mai
This lesson challenges learners to design and construct the tallest freestanding tower possible using common household materials. They will explore principles of stability, balance, and structural integrity through hands-on experimentation and critical thinking.
What your child gets out of it
- Design and build a stable, freestanding structure using limited materials.
- Identify and apply principles of balance and structural strength.
- Analyze and refine designs based on experimental results.
What you need
- Index Cards (or Construction Paper, Cardstock)
- Tape (or Masking Tape, Painter's Tape)
- Scissors — Adult supervision may be needed for young children.
How it runs
- Introduction · 5 min
- Explore & Plan · 8 min
- Discussion · 6 min
- Activity · 9 min
- Summary · 2 min
Why it matters
Structural engineers use these principles to design skyscrapers, bridges, and other large constructions that withstand forces like wind and earthquakes.
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