At first glance, tower challenges might seem simple—but don’t be fooled. These quick-build activities pack a powerful educational punch and are perfect for kicking off your school year. Beyond reinforcing foundational STEM concepts, tower challenges promote essential classroom skills like collaboration, communication, creative and critical thinking, and problem-solving. They’re also low-prep, highly flexible, and a fun way to build classroom culture from day one.
In this Back-to-School Build-Off STEAM Challenge, students will work in small groups to design and build the tallest freestanding tower they can using only paper and paper clips—all within a 10-minute time limit. Teams may test and adjust their towers as they go, but once the 10 minutes are up, their final design must be ready to hold at least five hardback books. Feel free to modify materials or time based on your classroom needs to encourage even more creative collaboration.
Challenge Instructions
Objective: Build the tallest freestanding structure possible using only paper and paper clips that can hold at least five hardback books.
Materials: 20 sheets of paper, 20 paper clips, 5+ hardback books
Time: 10 minutes (you can modify the time limit for younger children)
Scoring:
A. 10 points if your paper tower is between 5-11 inches tall; 15 points if your paper tower is between 12-21 inches tall; 20 points if your paper tower is 22 inches or taller
B. 10 points if your structure is holding 5 hardback books; 15 points if your structure is holding 7 or more hardback books
C. Up to 20 points for the creative use of materials
D. Up to 20 points for how well your group works together
E. 10 points for thoughtful responses during the reflection discussion, sharing what your team built, how you worked together, what challenges you faced, and what you might do differently next time.
Processing Questions:
What strategy did your team use when starting the tower—and did it change along the way? Why?
How did your group share ideas or make decisions during the challenge?
What surprised you the most during the building or testing phase?
If you could redesign your tower from scratch, what would you try differently?
How did the limited materials affect your design choices?
What skills did you notice yourself using today (e.g., problem-solving, teamwork, creativity)?
How might this challenge connect to real-world engineering or design problems?
Want More Creative, Low-Prep STEAM Activities?
Looking for meaningful, low-prep ways to integrate creativity and collaboration into your classroom? Our Teacher’s Guide to the Creative Process is your go-to resource. This free download features:
✅ 10 engaging STEAM activities that foster curiosity and innovation
✅ Guided reflection questions to deepen learning and discussion
✅ A clear breakdown of what the creative process is—and why it matters
✅ Insight into how students benefit from creative, student-driven learning
Whether you’re teaching STEM, art, or any subject in between, this guide will help you build a learning environment where problem-solving, imagination, and ownership thrive.
📥 Download the guide now and start sparking creativity from day one.
