Learning to work together as a team can mean the difference between success and failure. Imagine the challenge that the women of WomenQuest face in learning to pull together to help each other achieve their goals. In this exercise, students will have a chance to build a freestanding structure as a way of experiencing what it takes for a team to work together. Here are some possible combinations of materials that can be used to construct the structures. Teachers should consider what is readily and inexpensively available at their school.
More time permits richer discussions.
This means that structures can be rated both by height, ability to stand unsupported, and cost of production. It also introduces an added dimension into the planning process. If you add this to the activity, please allow students additional time to calculate the cost of materials. There are a few keys to success for the teams. The first is to use the planning time to determine what will work and to assign tasks to people.