Give students a fast, hands-on engineering investigation: build a paper “table,” change only the support shape, and measure which design holds the greatest load. With tight build rules and simple materials, students plan a fair test, collect one clear data point per shape, and create a comparison bar graph.

The teacher guide explains why some shapes resist buckling better (curvature, multi-cell designs) so you can teach the science behind the results—not just do the challenge.

What’s Included

• Teacher Guide: setup, safety, pacing, build rules, and background science.
• Student Packet: clear, step-by-step build/setup instructions and a one-trial data sheet for up to 5 support shapes.
• Printable Build Aids: fold/trace guides for Cylinder, Rectangular Prism (Square Column), Triangular Prism, I-Beam, and Honeycomb Bundle.
• Summary & Graphing Pages: comparison table and bar-graph template (Max Load vs Support Shape) with printable graph paper.
• Analysis & Model Answers: sample data reflecting the expected trend plus exemplar responses to the analysis prompts.
• Rubric & Extensions: detailed 24-point rubric.
  

Why Teachers Love It

• Truly “print-and-go” with explicit build rules for a fair test
• Real lab skills: variables, controls, data recording, graphing, and CER
• Runs in a single period with low-cost, common materials
• Easy to differentiate: test fewer/more shapes, or add a second confirmatory trial
  

Best For

Science or STEM; forces and structure, engineering design, scientific method, data and graphing, stations, enrichment, or sub plans.

Materials Needed

Printer paper or cardstock (same type for all), clear tape, scissors, ruler, tabletop board/book, identical books or small weights, student handouts, pencils.

Estimated Timing

1 class period for five shapes × one trial each; add 15–20 minutes if you want a second confirmation trial or a class share-out. You can easily spread this out over a second day.

➡️ You can get this STEM as well as all my other ones in this series inside my STEM Investigations Growing Bundle. As more labs are added, the price will increase. CLICK HERE to have a look

I also have the following STEM Labs in My Store:

• Blow Cup Challenge STEM Lab
• Paper Table STEM Lab
• Pendulum STEM Lab
• Parachute STEM Lab
• Catapult STEM Lab
• Paper Airplane - Angle of Attack STEM Lab
• Bottle Flip STEM Lab
• Paper Helicopter STEM Lab
• Yeast Balloon STEM Lab
• Balloon Lift Design STEM Lab
• Candy Combustion Calorimetry STEM
• Marble Ramp: Height vs Average Speed STEM Lab
• Clean Water Filtration STEM Lab
• Beetle Genetics STEM Lab
• Adaptations by Design - Extreme Environments STEM Lab

NGSS Alignment

• MS-ETS1-1 Define criteria and constraints of a design problem
• MS-ETS1-2 Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process
• MS-ETS1-3 Analyze test data to compare and improve solutions
• MS-PS2-2 Plan and conduct an investigation showing how forces and mass affect motion
• Science & Engineering Practices: Planning & Carrying Out Investigations; Analyzing & Interpreting Data; Constructing Explanations; Engaging in Argument from Evidence