How to Make a Tower With Paper Clips & Note Cards

Building a tall paper tower takes planning and patience.

Building a paper clip and note card tower takes patience, planning and balance. The entire tower can topple over if the cards aren't positioned correctly, taking you back to the start. Paper clips help you hold the tower in place as you build each level. It's a project you can complete at home or in the classroom. It helps to have a second set of hands to hold the tower in place until it's steady.

Things You'll Need

• 18 5-by-7 note cards
• 12 paperclips

Instructions

1. Fold 12 note cards in half (into a V) so they are 5-by-3-1/2 inch cards.

2. Open the folded cards.

3. Stand four note cards upright on the floor, side by side, to form a closed rectangle.

4. Paperclip the four note cards together on their sides to connect them.

5. Place two unfolded note cards on top of the stacked postcards to create the first level.

6. Open four additional note cards you folded in step one.

7. Paperclip them together on their sides to form a second closed rectangle.

8. Stack them on top of the unfolded note cards that form the first level.

9. Place two additional unfolded note cards on top of the second set of stacked note cards.

10. Follow Steps 6 to 8 to add additional levels.

11. Place the last two note cards on top of the last set of stacked note cards to complete the tower.

References

• "The Frugal Science Teacher, 6-9: Strategies and Activities"; Linda Froschauer; 2010