Think!

Home-made Instruments

2012-02-02T12:44:00.003-05:00

Your challenge is to create an instrument using only the following materials and tools:

Materials:

40 mm PVC reticulation pipe (or mailing tube)
duct tape
10cm length of garden hose
1 ordinary round party balloon
Two strong elastic bands

Tools

A pair of garden secateurs or strong craft knife
A tenon saw or a hacksaw
Tape measure
Pencil
Scissors

As always, send pictures and enjoy the challenge! Video would also be wonderful!

Twinkies

2012-01-17T11:45:00.002-05:00

Given the recent news about Hostess Twinkies potentially disappearing, I thought it would be fun to invite solutions to this challenge:

Make something using one box of Twinkies. Good luck. Very eager to see pictures! Send your solutions to kidthinkers@gmail.com.

Robots

2011-12-21T21:36:00.003-05:00

Save your boxes (or styrofoam filling) from holiday gifts -- any size, any number and use only duct tape and boxes to create a robot. Try to make arms, legs, etc. that move! As always, we love to see your solutions -- send them to kidthinkers@gmail.com.

Holiday Fun Solutions

2011-12-21T21:29:00.003-05:00

Check out this awesome video sent from unschoolme!

Think Creatively!

2011-12-05T08:07:00.001-05:00

There is a great need to foster creative thinking by our children. It will guarantee their success in the unpredictable future! Have them watch this and then try to make their own Rube Goldberg Machine (NO FIRE!!!). Good luck! Send us your solutions.

Melvin The Magical Mixed Media Machine from HEYHEYHEY on Vimeo.

Noodles

2011-11-29T13:58:00.002-05:00

For a twist on the traditional pasta tower challenge, gather up your pasta and make a noodle tower using noodles, paperclips and 12 inches of tape and NOTHING else -- no glue allowed.

Holiday Fun

2011-11-29T13:55:00.002-05:00

Gather up 10-12 old/preferably used gift cards or postcards or index cards and 3 colored pencils, a hole punch, 3 paperclips, and 3 feet of string. Create a puppet. Please please send photos to kidthinkers@gmail.com so that I can share you wonderful work!

Books

2011-08-11T07:56:00.002-04:00

Materials: An old book, 3 writing utensils, water, a hair dryer, paperclips

The challenge: create something unexpected but you must use all materials in the object!

Crayons

2011-08-10T07:53:00.004-04:00

Materials: the sun, 6 crayons, 6 pieces of paper, 6 paperclips

What can you make using just these materials? Be sure to use all of them!

Inspiration

2011-07-03T11:02:00.001-04:00

If you need inspiration, check out this blog. They always have great solutions to our challenges!

Games

2011-06-19T18:23:00.003-04:00

Use the following materials to make your own board game. It can only have 3 rules. Send us a picture of the game and a description of the rules. Good luck!

Materials: a cereal box
paint
markers
up to 24 bottle tops

You may use scissors and tape in construction.

Design a fish

2011-06-19T18:17:00.003-04:00

Use the following materials to design a fish, then see if it will float!

a carboard toilet paper tube
1 sheet of paper
12 inches of aluminum foil
12 inches of packing tape

You may use scissors and permanent markers in construction.

Good luck!

Another Egg Drop

2011-06-19T18:14:00.002-04:00

Use the following materials to protect your egg. Drop it from 15 feet and see if it worked -- try and try again -- you can protect it with these materials:

12 inches of string
6 cotton balls
2 small dixie cups
a freezer bag

You may use scissors and 6 inches of tape in construction.

Good luck. If you can film it, send in your film!

Revisiting the One Man Band

2011-06-19T09:41:00.002-04:00

I posted this challenge a while back, but here it is again in another form:

Make your own one-man band using only the following materials :

3 rubberbands
2 cardboard tubes of any length
duct tape
a pencil and an eraser
12 inches of tissue paper
3 straws
an empty stapler (no staples)
12 paperclips
a key
a CD

You may use scissors in construction.

Catapult

2011-06-18T21:04:00.002-04:00

Create a catapult using only these materials:

a popsicle stick or a ruler
hot glue
duct tape
a cup or a lid
a pipecleaner

Dolls

2011-06-18T20:55:00.002-04:00

Use the following materials to create a doll:

2 12 x 12 inch squares of tissue paper
2 pipe cleaners
2 small dixie cups
12 inches of duct tape
one item of your choice

Good luck!

Shoes

2011-06-18T20:53:00.002-04:00

Use the following materials to create a wearable pair of shoes: 2 12 x 12 inch squares of fabric or aluminum foil, 48 inches of duct tape, 2 12 x 12 inch squares of cardboard. You may also use scissors and hot glue if necesary. Good luck. Send picures!

Summer Challenges

2011-06-16T15:25:00.004-04:00

Use the following materials to build a water wall:

a 4 x 4 foot piece of wood
2 feet of pvc piping
10 paper or plastic cups
10 straws
6 index cards (can be laminated if you want)
duct tape
4 nails
2 items of your choice

You may use a hammer and permanent sharpies as well. Be careful. Have fun. Get wet!

Look at this for inspiration:

Good luck! Send pictures.

Another Idea from Toadhaven

2011-06-15T09:16:00.003-04:00

Materials: 100 craft sticks, as many dominoes as you can find, string, straws, and paper and 10 items of your choice.

Create a "bomb"

Watch this first for inspiration:

Frenetic Kinetics! from lunatim on Vimeo.

Inspired by Toad Haven

2011-06-15T09:02:00.003-04:00

What you need: Imagination. Magnifying glass. Sun. Wood.

Create a magical piece of art using the sun! Send pics and we'll post. Be careful -- playing with fire is dangerous -- be sure to supervise this one!

Blindfold Drawing

2011-03-13T09:17:00.004-04:00

I have been very busy with Charlotte Community School for Girls and have been unable to post new challenges. But, this week, we are going to try a new one at school. It is a variation on other challenges we've done, but a fun one. You need a partner, a blank piece of paper or posterboard, a black sharpie, colored markers and a blind fold. Each person should blindfold themselves and use a black sharpie to draw on the paper or board for 3 minutes. You may draw whatever you like. Then, switch papers and do the same thing again. Once the 6 minutes are up, take off the blindfolds. Exchange papers again. Use the colored markers to finish your masterpiece. Send us the pictures!

Check out these awesome pictures!

Duct Tape

2010-09-06T10:20:00.000-04:00

Place a roll of duct tape on the table. The challenge: make something 3 dimensional that represents innovation. Good Luck.

Recycled Art

2010-08-29T07:13:00.000-04:00

Take 6 items from your trash bin (not recycling bin) and wash them off. Then, use paint and glue to design something that the world did not know it was missing!

Simple Machines

2010-08-22T07:07:00.000-04:00

How many simple machines can you make from 10 paper clips and 2 pieces of 8.5 x 11 paper? Show us!

Rope Bridges

2010-08-15T07:07:00.000-04:00

Using yarn, rope, or string, construct a bridge that spans 12 inches and holds as much weight as possible. You may attach your bridge with tape or nails. Send in pictures that show the construction details and the weights on the bridge.

Post It Towers

2010-08-08T07:07:00.000-04:00

Can you build a tower from a pad of post-it notes? How high? Good luck.

Pencil Puppets

2010-08-01T07:07:00.000-04:00

The materials: pencils, paperclips, nails, saw or knife (be careful!), one other item

Create a puppet that moves. Send in your pics. We're eager to see them.

Bricks and blankets

2010-07-31T07:24:00.001-04:00

Zee has some awesome answers for you:

Throw the blanket over someone and whack them with the brick.
Tie blanket around brick to make a parachute.
Tie blanket around the brick and use as a hard pillow.
Hollow out brick and cut piece of blanket to use as sailboat.
Tie blanket into a knot and juggle it with the brick.
Dig a hole and cover with the blanket. Put the brick in front of it and make pit fall trap.
Break a shard of brick and use as a pin to wear the blanket.

See his pictures here as well.

Collaborative Drawing Solutions

2010-07-27T21:59:00.003-04:00

Check out these phenomenal drawings from Boo and Zee:

Old movies etc.

2010-07-25T07:06:00.000-04:00

Find some old CDs, DVDs, tapes, etc and make a person with articulated parts. Good luck!

Glue and flour

2010-07-18T07:04:00.001-04:00

The challenge: build something with glue and flour and one other object -- be creative. Think outside of the box! Good luck. Send in your pictures.

Junk Drawer Robots

2010-07-18T07:03:00.002-04:00

These are some awesome creations!! Check them out by clicking on the word these.

And, so are these!

Thank you all for your patience with my delay in posting.

Paper and Pencil

2010-07-06T21:14:00.000-04:00

The only things that you need for this challenge are a stop watch, paper, and pencil. In 60 seconds, write down all of the things that you can do with a brick and a blanket. If your list is less than 10 items long, give yourself another 60 seconds and add some more. Good luck! Share your lists -- we'll make one big list.

Airplanes

2010-06-29T21:13:00.000-04:00

Everyone has made an airplane out of paper, but can you make one out of fabric and one other item? Will it fly?

Good luck.

Junk Drawer

2010-06-29T21:10:00.000-04:00

Do not tell children why, just direct them to choose 15 items from your junk drawer. If you don't have a junk drawer, have them choose 15 random items that will fit in a shoe box.

The challenge: to build a robot. Only one adhesive item may be used in construction -- glue, paperclips, tape, string, etc.

Super challenge: build a robot with articulated parts.

Good luck. Don't forget to send pictures.

Rubberbands

2010-06-22T21:08:00.002-04:00

I am always trying to figure out what to do with the bags of rubberbands that we have -- not sure where we got them or why --

So the challenge is to make a rubberband puppet -- you may use two items: paper and rubberbands. You may use scissors and markers in construction but not the solution.

Send videos if possible.

Collaborative Drawing

2010-05-17T17:10:00.000-04:00

Ok -- you must have at least two people to complete this challenge:

The challenge is to draw a picture using only perpendicular lines. The rules: you may not speak to each other before or during the challenge about the challenge and you may only draw one line at a time. The next person can only draw a connecting perpedicular line. You have 24 hours to complete this challenge.

Good luck!

Food Creation Solutions

2010-05-10T17:14:00.005-04:00

Sayer and her brother Duncan did a fantabulous job with this challenge. They used a small can of olives, a pack of gum, a chocolate coin, and marshmallows from the pantry, 2 carrots from the fridge, and 2 sticks from the yard, plus LOTS of tape to construct a helicopter.

I misplaced these pictures so if someone can resend them -- please do and I'll post. Thanks for your patience.

Cups and Coins

2010-05-10T17:03:00.003-04:00

Here's the challenge: build the tallest tower possible100 cups/coins -- the number must add up to 100 but you can allocate any way you wish. One more rule: cups may only touch coins, they may not touch each other. Since there is a good chance of collapse, we recommend that you use paper cups and quarters.

Good luck!

Plant Solutions

2010-05-10T16:56:00.003-04:00

Magnificent solutions from Sayer:

Sensational solutions from Em:

Food Creations

2010-05-05T08:00:00.000-04:00

Choose 4 items from your pantry, 2 from your refrigerator and and 2 from your yard. You may use either tape, paperclips, or pencils as well. You may use other tools for construction but not in the solution.

Your challenge: make a vehicle.

Create a flower or plant

2010-04-29T08:06:00.000-04:00

This challenge is simple, but great for all ages:

Use the following materials to create a new variety of plant:

3 pipe cleaners
1 paper cup
3 paperclips
3 inches of tape
3 pieces of paper
1 marker
3 objects of your choice

The challenge is to use all objects -- when you send in your pictures include the name of your plant!

Cards and Straws Solutions

2010-04-25T22:03:00.004-04:00

Once again, Boo and Zee did a marvelous job! Read more about it here.

And check out these super solutions from a 5th grade class!

And, here is Isiah's wonderful solution.

Congratulations everyone for thinking hard!

Pens, Pencils, Paperclips

2010-04-25T08:04:00.004-04:00

Can you build a boat from pens, pencils and paperclips? Will it float?

This challenge is to build a boat with pens, pencils, and paperclips or any combination thereof. The challenge is 1) see if it floats, 2) see how much weight it will hold before sinking -- use coins as your weights.

Caution: placing pens in water may affect their ability to write.

Good luck!

Cards and Straws

2010-04-18T00:30:00.001-04:00

Build the largest structure you can and send it's measurements in with your pictures. You may use -- one box of paperclips, one bag of straws, and one deck of cards.

Good luck!

Paper Airplanes Solutions

2010-04-12T00:00:00.000-04:00

Boo and Zee used their creative minds to figure out how to build a paper airplane without using their hands! Strong work! Read all about it here.

Cantilevers

2010-04-08T18:00:00.000-04:00

Using the following materials --build the longest cantilever you can.

One roll of scotch tape
One hundred straws

Good luck! Be sure to include your measurements when you send in your solution.

Paper Airplanes

2010-04-05T11:47:00.000-04:00

The challenge -- using 4 pieces of paper, tape, and tongs but NOT your hands build the biggest paper airplane you can. Then, fly it!

Mini boats

2010-03-11T13:46:00.000-05:00

Build a boat with water wheel with these materials -- then, see how much weight it will hold before sinking (be sure to send pictures of the boat holding weight -- use whatever you'd like):

a ruler
4 pencils
2 feet of aluminum foil
a cereal box
24 inches of tape
4 spoons
4 index cards
4 paperclips
buttons or brads
string

You must use all of the materials.

Cars

2010-03-05T21:36:00.007-05:00

Noah did an amazing job -- He made the car out of a toilet paper roll, tea candles, Q-Tips, Baskin Robbins spoons Mom emptied from her pocket weeks ago, and two of his bath toys -- an action figure and rocket: all items found in two bathrooms.

And here are some other pics:

Orca and Alce also did a brilliant job:

Interesting Link to Share

2010-03-05T21:35:00.001-05:00

Thought you all might be interested in this blog:

http://www.mritechnicianschools.org/60-free-science-games-to-excite-inspire-your-kids/

Arches

2010-03-04T19:09:00.000-05:00

This challenge calls for you to build an arch with spaghetti noodles. You may use 12 inches of tape. You may use one other item in construction and one in the solution.

Good luck!

Blinds Solutions

2010-02-28T19:54:00.001-05:00

Check out these fantabulous solutions from Boo and Zee:

Cars

2010-02-25T19:07:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite challenges is to build a car. This time, the challenge calls for using materials you find in your bathroom (anything). You may not use anything that you would not find in your bathroom in construction or the solution. If you can send a video that shows your car rolling, please do! Good luck.

Window Blinds

2010-02-18T15:36:00.001-05:00

Using the following materials, make a window blind (and, if you can, make one that can open and close).

Good luck.

a cardboard box (this will be your window)

string
paperclips
straws
a ruler
index cards

Castle and Drawbridge Solutions

2010-02-16T20:56:00.004-05:00

Magnificent solutions this week!

Benny and Braidon did a fantastic job! Congrats!

Orca and Alce did a tremendous job as well! Congrats!

Ross, Sadie and March also did a marvelous job! Congrats!

Lukas and Noah did an amazing job too! Congrats!

Selena, Samuel, Solomon, Lily, Josh also did a superb job with their castles with the drawbridges! Congrats!

Castles and Drawbridges

2010-02-11T16:59:00.000-05:00

Build a castle with a drawbridge using some/all of the following materials:

cereal boxes
5 index cards
tape
2 pencils
paperclips
2 toilet paper roll
2 spools
string

You may use scissors and markers in construction but not the solution.

Nails and Strings Solutions

2010-02-10T15:12:00.005-05:00

Congratulations to the Bray family! They did a marvelous job with this challenge. You can read more here. Here are their solutions:

Orca and Alce also did a fantastic job. They created a "musical instrument", a boat
and a "Chicken on a spit". I absolutely love these!

Simon from Belgium participated for this first time with this challenge and also did an awesome job with the challenge. Congratulations!

More magnificent solutions! Click here!

Nails and string

2010-02-04T18:00:00.000-05:00

Sticking with the theme of few parameters and limited materials -- this weeks challenge is to place a box of nails, a board and string on the table. Then, create something.

A hammer may be used in construction but not the solution.

Good luck!

Cool Coin Solutions

2010-02-03T06:44:00.008-05:00

Orca, Alce and the Langdons sent in some magnificent coin creations -- congratulations on your clever creations! See if you can match the following solutions up properly:

Eiffel tower, camel, smiley face, piece of chicken in a frying pan, house

Another awesome solution just arrived -- it is a house with a front porch!

And check out these solutions too!

More great solutions from JD and Jackson -- coin house and coin boy! These are fantabulous!

Just pennies

2010-01-28T18:00:00.000-05:00

Along the lines of last week's challenge -- place all of the coins from your house on the table. Then build something.

Good luck.

Solutions from around the world!

2010-01-28T06:35:00.001-05:00

Paper and Pencils Solutions

2010-01-28T06:11:00.004-05:00

We had marvelous participation this week and some magnificent solutions.

Abundant congratulations to:

Orca, Alce, Zee, Boo, Jonathan

Just Pencils and Paperclips

2010-01-21T18:00:00.000-05:00

Put a handful of pencils and paperclips on the table.

The challenge is to make something -- anything. If it has articulated components that is even better!

Good luck.

Hook and Ladder Solutions

2010-01-21T07:12:00.004-05:00

Congratulations to the only engineers brave enough to complete our challenge:

Boo and Zee.

You can read more about their solution here.

Here are some awesome pictures of some fantastic hook and ladders!

Ish joined in and did a marvelous job! Read more about his creation here: http://whatlittleboysdo.wordpress.com/2010/01/21/make-a-hook-and-ladder/

Hook and Ladder

2010-01-14T18:00:00.000-05:00

The challenge:

Build a hook and ladder using the following materials --

a cereal box
2 toilet paper tubes
a handful of straws
a handful of toothpicks or paperclips (not both)
string
tape
2 pencils
2 index cards
a handful of pushpins

Good luck!

Lots of Clever Self-sufficient Fishermen(women) Out There!

2010-01-12T20:10:00.006-05:00

Check out these fantastic fishing rods:

Congratulations to Josh and Jacob. You should be proud:

And here are some great pics from T. You can read about her solution here.

And, as always, Zee did a great job. You can read about his creation here.

Elevated Egg Solutions

2010-01-08T20:14:00.004-05:00

Check out this solution by Zee, or Zeedini, the only one brave enough to submit his elevated egg picture! Magnfico! You should be proud for sticking with it!

Animated Animal Solutions

2010-01-08T20:09:00.001-05:00

Check out this awesome animated animal that the Langdons created! I hope you are proud!

Gone Fishin'

2010-01-08T06:45:00.002-05:00

Your challenge is to build a fishing rod with a reel using the following materials.

5 paperclips
a toilet paper roll or paper towel roll (not both)
6 feet of string
a stick or pole of your choice
5 inches of duck tape
a pin or a brad
an index card
a pencil
1 object of your choice (but if you use this option, you must leave out one from above)

Reel something in and send us your pictures!

Happy New Year!

Animated Animals

2009-12-24T08:37:00.001-05:00

Your challenge is to create an animated animal using any/all of the following:

cereal and/or the box it came in
4 cans
spaghetti
marshmallows
table knives
gum
string

Good luck!

Elevate an Egg

2009-12-16T08:32:00.000-05:00

Your challenge: raise an egg off the ground as high as possible using the following:

paperclips
a roll of pennies
4 pencils (be careful!)
2 spoons
2 forks

You can use a hard-boiled egg if you'd like, but it is more fun to use a raw one!

Houses of Cards Solutions

2009-12-12T21:46:00.002-05:00

Check out these awesome houses by Pierce and Braden! Great job guys!

Oil Rig Solutions

2009-12-11T06:25:00.004-05:00

Check out these fantabulous oil rigs! Congratulations Boo and Zee!

You can read more about their thinking process and see more pictures here.

House of Cards

2009-12-10T08:29:00.000-05:00

This is a version of a challenge we've done earlier -- build a house of cards. The challenge is to use either a deck of cards or a stack of index cards to build a house. You may use paperclips in your construction but nothing else. Try to do it without paperclips -- or do it both ways and send in both pics.

Oil Rigs

2009-12-03T08:24:00.000-05:00

Your challenge is to build an oil rig that will remain in the same location in a bed of water. It must be at least 24 inches tall and 12 inches wide. It must remain stable in at least 12 inches of water. If you want a real challenge, make sure that there is a working crane on the rig. Send your pics -- this is a hard one!

2 rolls of pennies
24 inches of string
a box of straws
2 forks
a spool
tape
a cereal box
4 sheets of paper
1 object of your choice

You may use other materials in construction, but not in the final project.

Tall Tower Solutions

2009-11-30T18:52:00.005-05:00

Congratulations Luke and Noah on your tall tower of 23 inches! You should be proud!

Sebastian also did an amazing job! Hope you are also proud!

Bodhi also did a marvelous job with this challenge -- you should be proud!!!

The challenge is pretty hard if the toys you pick are soft! Check out the super work of Boo and Zee here. Hope you are proud of your successful Think!ing strategies!

Puppets Solutions

2009-11-30T18:48:00.001-05:00

This one is harder than it appears!

Making puppets is challenging. Making them move is more challenging. Making them with these materials is even more challenging.

Congrats to Zee and Boo for doing an amazing job!

To read more about their solutions, visit Journey into Unschooling.

Tall Towers

2009-11-29T08:00:00.000-05:00

Tell your student to select 10 toys. Do not tell why --

Once the toys are collected, tell the student to create the tallest tower possible using the 10 toys -- send in a pic, include your measurements. To make the challenge harder, build the tower on the clothes dryer and then turn it on and see if the tower still stands.

oops -- this posted early for some reason -- oh well. Consider it a bonus challenge!

Thanksgiving Games -- Solutions

2009-11-26T09:02:00.003-05:00

Journey into Unschooling created this marvelous picture when they played this week's Thanksgiving game -- read about their creative process here.

I love it!

Puppets

2009-11-26T08:20:00.000-05:00

Your challenge is to make a puppet using the following materials. You must use all of them and your puppet must have at least 3 moving parts:

24 inches of string
4 straws
2 objects of your choice
4 paperclips
4 index cards

Markers may be used in construction. Scissors may not. Good luck.

Thanksgiving Games

2009-11-21T08:13:00.004-05:00

You've probably played a game similar to this, but this is a great activity that can start Thanksgiving morning and last all day. If you're not in the US, the game is the same -- there's nothing that makes it Thanksgiving-specific.

In the morning, place a poster somewhere that is accessible. Draw one line on it and invite others to add one line at a time. Do not give any other instructions. You may not talk about what you are drawing at any time during the day. You may only add 1 contiguous line at a time. You may not add another line until someone else has added a line. The more people that participate, the more fun this is.

If you join in the fun, send me a pic. I'll post it. I promise!

Check out the creation at Journey into Unschooling if you need some inspiration -- they colored theirs!!

Where I've Been

2009-11-21T08:06:00.002-05:00

Several of you have emailed and asked where I've been. I have been pursuing a life dream of opening a school for economically disadvantaged middle school girls. We will open our doors in August 2010. You can find the school online at Charlotte Community School for Girls. Girls at CCSG transition into young women who appreciate the power of the individual to impact her family, community, city, state, nation, and world. CCSG is a family. We attend to each girl's needs and we celebrate and value differences. Scholars learn to think, to treat each other with respect, to appreciate the benefits of cooperation, and to balance the needs of the individual with those of the community. We provide a demanding environment for learning. While mastering the fundamentals in English, math, history/culture, science, and Spanish, our scholars engage in class discussions, experiments, research projects, presentations, and performances. Every scholar has her own laptop and develops confidence and competence in the use of technology. Enrichment classes in art, music, drama, technology, world topics, special topics, physical education and service learning complete each girl's learning experience. Our scholars will break the cycle of poverty that plagues our nation's cities. They will close the global achievement gap. They will live their dreams in this great country that we call America.

I am in the process of uploading challenges that will post weekly again starting next Thursday. I will post all solutions received as they come in, but prefer for you to send your solutions in within in a week.

Thank you for your patience, understanding, and support. Our school will have many needs. If you'd like to be involved or learn more, please contact me at cathy@charlottecommunityschool.org.

I am very busy

2009-10-14T10:42:00.003-04:00

I apologize for the lapse in postings and challenges. I will post some things tomorrow. Thanks for your patience.

Marshmallow Madness Solutions

2009-10-01T19:04:00.006-04:00

Straight from the Netherlands, some magnificent work by an anonymous 4 year old and an anonymous 6 year old!

And, more marvelous marshmallow solutions by Joshua and Jacob:

And, Mr. B did a beautiful job with his arch --

I forgot an entry. I am so sorry! It was worth the wait though; here is the massive marshmallow arch from Boo and Zee. You can read more about it here.

You should all be very proud of your creative work!!!!!!!!!

Straw Bridges

2009-10-01T19:02:00.002-04:00

This week's challenge:

Using one box of straws and one roll of tape, build the strongest bridge that spans 18 inches and stands at least 2 inches off the table. You may not use other materials.

Good luck. When you send pictures, be sure to include information about how much weight your bridge would hold.

Paper Creations

2009-09-27T07:34:00.004-04:00

One of my favorite thinking challenges is to create something with scissors and paper. So, this week's challenge is to create a zoo using 1 sheet of notebook paper. You may use scissors in construction. You may not use anything else.

When you are done, but not before, check out these.

Marshmallow Madness

2009-09-17T18:00:00.001-04:00

Last year, there was a marshmallow arch challenge. This year, Marshmallow Madness Returns.

Your materials: a bag of large marshmallows, a box of toothpicks, 2 pairs of tongs.

Your challenge: build the tallest marshmallow arch you can using the materials above, but you may not touch the marshmallows with anything but the tongs.

Good luck! Photo, video, animoto submissions all accepted!

Masterworks from Kreative Kitchens

2009-09-15T19:50:00.004-04:00

Boo and Zee did a klever job kreating with kitchen items. They should be proud! You can read more here about the design process. If you'd like to commission some work, they'd be happy to speak with you!

Here is Wyatt's Glass House. Contrary to convention, the walls of this multi-family dwelling are transparent while the windows and door are translucent. Wyatt is a true modernist at heart. Magnificent work Wyatt!

Evie also did a tremendous job! Her house had french doors -- the occupants insisted on it!

Long or strong? Spaghetti solutions

2009-09-13T19:43:00.005-04:00

Zee did a another great job with this one. You can read more about his technique here.

Wyatt also did a wonderful job with this challenge. Pretty wise -- he actually stood on his spaghetti -- now that is strong!

Kreative in the Kitchen

2009-09-13T07:34:00.002-04:00

Using up to 25 objects from your kitchen, build a house that is at least 12 inches tall, 12 inches wide, and 12 inches deep. It must have two windows and a door. You may use scissors in construction and 12 inches of tape, but that is all!

Good luck

Super Silly String Solutions

2009-09-06T07:11:00.007-04:00

Got some wonderful solutions this week! Xavier created this magnificent marionette:

And, Wyatt did stupendous job with Super Stan the String Man:

Check out this amazing animoto video from Zee.

Spaghetti

2009-09-05T06:35:00.002-04:00

I like building with spaghetti -- so, here is your challenge --

build something strong or long using one box of spaghetti and one box of paperclips.

Looking forward to it!

Please send pictures showing how strong or how long -- I haven't gotten many recently.

Silly String

2009-08-28T10:52:00.007-04:00

This week's challenge is to create a person with string. It would be great if you could create a string marionette, but this is not a required element of the challenge.

You may use as much string as you'd like and you may use scissors in construction, but those are the only two materials that you may work with.

If you want to get extra creative, load your images to animoto and add music and send us the link.

Good luck.

Creative Cardboard Cars

2009-08-28T10:52:00.003-04:00

We had some marvelous entries this week.

You can read about the creative creations from Journey into Unschooling here. Congratulations Boo and Zee. Zee's is the sports car. Wonderful work guys!

We also had two marvelous creations from Zachariah and Aliya. It is their first time participating and they should both be proud of their awesome automobiles.

Straw Tower Solutions

2009-08-22T17:10:00.002-04:00

No surprise -- we had a great entry this week from Journey into Unschooling. Congrats on a job well done!

Cardboard Cars

2009-08-21T12:01:00.002-04:00

This week's challenge: make a car using some/all of the following materials, but nothing else. Scissors may be used in construction but not in the solution.

3 cardboard boxes (any size, shape, kind -- cereal, crackers, etc.), 4 paperclips, 4 q-tips and glue.

Note: There is a great UPS print ad that is a racecar made of cardboard if you need inspiratin.

Good luck. Look for last week's solutions soon.

Week Forty -Eight -- Straw towers

2009-08-13T18:00:00.000-04:00

You'll need -- a bag of straws, 6 inches of string, 6 paperclips, and 6 inches of tape. The challenge is to build the tallest and strongest tower you can. Choose three medium sized hardback books. Build the tower as tall and you can but make sure that it supports the 3 books. Snap a picture. Send it in. Congratulate yourself on some thinking well done.

String Bridges

2009-08-13T17:51:00.001-04:00

Use 60 inches of string, two cups, and a bag of rice or pennies to create a bridge that spans at least 6 inches. Test its strength by placing books on it (as many as you'd like).

Oops -- this one got out before it was supposed to -- just consider a bonus from me taking a break!

Bonus Solutions -- String Bridges

2009-08-13T08:18:00.004-04:00

Check out this marvelous string bridge built by Zee.

Visit Journey into Unschooling to see more.