1. Paper tower
Build the tallest freestanding tower possible using a limited number of sheets of paper and a short length of tape. Compare rolled, folded, and triangular structures.
2. Balloon-powered car
Create a small wheeled vehicle propelled by air escaping from a balloon. Test wheel alignment, mass, axle friction, and nozzle direction.
3. Aluminum-foil boat
Shape a fixed-size sheet of foil into a boat and count how many coins it can carry before sinking. Redesign it to distribute weight more effectively.
4. Cardboard robotic hand
Use cardboard finger shapes, straws, and string to model how tendons pull fingers closed. Observe how joint placement changes motion.
5. Marble maze
Design a cardboard maze that guides a marble from start to finish. Add constraints such as gates, ramps, or a maximum completion time.
6. Straw bridge
Build a bridge spanning a fixed gap with straws and tape. Add weight gradually and record where the structure begins to bend.
7. Rubber-band vehicle
Store energy by winding a rubber band around an axle, then use it to propel a lightweight vehicle. Experiment with wheel size and the number of winds.
8. Binary-message bracelet
Assign two bead colors to zero and one, convert letters into binary patterns, and encode a short word or initials.
9. Water filter model
Layer clean gravel, sand, and cloth to observe how physical filtration changes cloudy water. This is a model only—never drink the filtered water.
10. Scratch animation or game
Use block-based programming to create a character, define events, add movement, and build a simple scoring or storytelling system.
Make every project an experiment
Before testing, write a prediction. Change one variable at a time, record the result, and explain what you would improve next. That cycle is the heart of engineering.