Straw Tower Earthquake STEM Challenge BTS12

Middle School Back to School Engineering: 2-page STEM packet on seismic shear forces, triangular cross-bracing, aspect ratio math, & earthquake testing.

Test structural stability and earthquake engineering under simulated seismic conditions! The Straw Tower Earthquake Challenge (BTS12) challenges middle school student teams to build a free-standing tower at least 30 cm tall using only straws and tape that can survive a 10-second earthquake shake test.

Students learn about seismic forces, triangular cross-bracing, center of mass, and height-to-base aspect ratios while engineering earthquake-resistant structures!

What Is Included in This 2-Page Packet?

Page 1: Student Mission Card & Blueprint: Real-world earthquake engineering and seismic hazard scenario, clear material constraints box (20 straws, 50 cm tape, 30 cm minimum height, unattached base, 10-second shake survivability), and a dedicated Seismic Tower & Cross-Bracing Blueprint sketching zone for planning triangular trusses and base geometry.

Page 2: Testing Log & Scientific Reflection: Structured Data Testing Table (track base geometry, tower height in centimeters, and shake test survival across 3 prototype tests), Applied Math Connection (calculate height-to-base aspect ratios: Height / Base Width to evaluate structural balance and stability), and engineering reflection questions analyzing triangulation vs. rectangular frames, center of mass control, and structural flexibility vs. rigidity.

Core STEM Skills Covered:

Earthquake Engineering, Lateral Shear Forces & Seismic Stability

Triangular Cross-Bracing, Base Geometry & Center of Mass

Data Logging, Aspect Ratio Calculations, and Height Measurement (cm)

Iterative Prototyping and Failure Analysis

Why Teachers Love This Resource:

High-Energy Hands-On Testing: Students love watching their towers endure the 10-second shake test!

Low-Cost Materials: Uses simple plastic drinking straws and masking tape.

Clean 2-Page Layout: Keeps student blueprints, aspect ratio math, and reflections organized on a single front-and-back printable sheet.

Print-Ready: High-resolution, 2-page PDF format ready for instant printing.