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Session 02: Tower Power 🏰

Overview

Grades: 1-2 | Duration: 30 minutes | Session: 2 of 17

Students explore what makes structures stable, designing and building towers that are tall AND strong.

Session 02: Tower Power

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, students will:

  • Understand that wide bases provide stability

  • Build towers using various materials

  • Test structures for height and strength

  • Practice iteration (trying again to improve)

Session 02: Tower Power

Materials Needed

  • 📦 KEVA Planks (from CSCOE library)

  • 📦 Cups (paper or plastic)

  • 📦 Index cards

  • 📏 Measuring stick or tape measure

  • 📓 Design Detective journals

  • 📸 Pictures of famous towers

Catholic Integration

Saint Connection

St. Barbara — Patron saint of architects and builders. She's remembered for her faith that was strong like a tower!

Scripture

"The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe." — Proverbs 18:10

Opening Prayer

Dear God, you are our strong tower! Help us build towers today that are strong and stable. When we face challenges, remind us that you are our strength. Amen.

Lesson Procedure

Opening Circle (5 minutes)

  1. Famous Towers — Show pictures:
  2. Eiffel Tower
  3. Leaning Tower of Pisa
  4. Church bell towers
  5. What Makes Towers Strong?
  6. Wide base
  7. Balanced weight
  8. Strong materials
  9. Today's Challenge — "Build the TALLEST tower that can stand for 10 seconds!"

Main Activity: Tower Engineering (19 minutes)

Part 1: Quick Challenge - Cup Towers (6 minutes)

  • Partners receive 10 cups

  • Challenge: Build as tall as possible

  • Test: Does it stand for 10 seconds?

  • Observe: What patterns make towers stable?

Part 2: KEVA Plank Towers (10 minutes)

  • Switch to KEVA Planks

  • Challenge: Build taller than a ruler (12 inches)!

  • Design considerations:

  • Start with wide base
  • Build symmetrically

  • Test as you build

  • Measure final heights

Part 3: Improvement Round (3 minutes)

  • "What would make your tower stronger?"

  • One more try to improve!

  • Compare: Better? What changed?

Design Detective Journal (4 minutes)

  1. Draw your tallest tower
  2. Label: Base, middle, top
  3. Write: "My tower was ___ inches tall"
  4. Write: "Strong towers need..."

Closing Circle (2 minutes)

  1. Tower Secrets — "What makes towers stable?"
  2. Faith Connection — "God is our strong tower!"
  3. Closing Prayer — "Thank you, God, for being our strong tower. Help us build strong structures and strong faith. Amen."

Assessment

Observation Checklist:

  • Built towers using multiple materials

  • Identified features of stable structures

  • Measured and compared heights

  • Improved designs through iteration

Differentiation

For Students Who Need Support

  • Focus on cup stacking only

  • Lower height goal (6 inches)

  • Build alongside teacher

For Advanced Students

  • Must support a book on top

  • Try multiple tower designs

  • Record data systematically

Wonder at Home 🏠

Family Activity: Build towers at home with blocks, cups, cards, or food cans. Have a family tower competition! What made the winning tower special? Visit or look up pictures of the Eiffel Tower.

Teacher Notes

  • Reserve KEVA Planks from CSCOE 2 weeks ahead

  • Save tower measurement data for comparison

  • Take photos of successful designs

  • Connect to architecture and construction careers

Previous: Session 01 — Design Detectives
Next: Session 03 — Meet Sphero