Team Challenge Creations

Duration: 100 minutes

Year Levels: Year 4–5
Class Size: 30 students
Curriculum Area: Technologies
Subject Strand: Design and Technologies
Australian Curriculum Link:
Design and Technologies Knowledge and Understanding | Years 3–4 & 5–6

• ACTDEK010 (Years 3–4): Investigate how forces and the properties of materials affect the behaviour of a product or system.
• ACTDEP015 (Years 3–4): Generate, develop and communicate design ideas and decisions using appropriate technical terms and graphical representation techniques.
• ACTDEP022 (Years 5–6): Select appropriate materials, components, tools, equipment and techniques and apply safe procedures to make designed solutions.

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WALT (We Are Learning To):

• Apply teamwork and problem-solving skills to complete design challenges.
• Explore how newspaper and tape (aesthetic and functional materials) can be used to create solutions.
• Evaluate how material properties influence design and construction.
• Communicate design ideas clearly using sketches, models, and oral presentation.

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Success Criteria:

✔ I can contribute ideas and work effectively in a small group.
✔ I can use newspaper and tape to build a structure for a purpose.
✔ I can explain how my design works and what improvements I could make.
✔ I can evaluate the performance of my design in a challenge.

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Lesson Outline

Introduction (10 minutes)

Activity Name: Design Think Quick!

• Conduct a quick think-pair-share: “What do we already know about using paper and tape to build?”
• Introduce today’s overarching idea: Using minimal materials (newspaper + masking tape) to complete design challenges involving strength, stability, height, and creativity.
• Show 2–3 examples of imagined results (e.g. a tall tower, a strong bridge, or a costume item).
• Divide class into 6 groups of 5 students using colour-coded name tags or sticks.

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Warm-Up Challenge 1 — The Tallest Tower (20 minutes)

Objective: Build a free-standing tower as tall as possible using only newspaper and masking tape.

Instructions:

• No touching the structure after time is called.
• It must stand on its own for at least 10 seconds.
• You’ll have only 2 full double-page newspapers and 1 metre of tape.

Skills Focus:

• Planning, experimentation, team communication, working under constraint.

Group Roles Suggested (to rotate each challenge):

• Engineer (leads building)
• Recorder (draws initial design)
• Material Manager (collects supplies)
• Timekeeper
• Presenter

Mid-Point Check-In: After 10 minutes, freeze and regroup for a 1-minute huddle: “Is our design working?”
Wrap-Up: Measure towers and discuss techniques (triangles vs. rolls, base size, etc.)

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Challenge 2 — The Strength Bridge (25 minutes)

Objective: Build a bridge that can span 30 cm and hold as much weight (classroom maths books) as possible.

Materials per group:

• 2 full newspapers
• 1 metre of tape
• 2 chairs spaced 30 cm apart

Constraints:

• Bridge must not be taped to the chairs.
• Weight is only added after time ends.

Skills Focus:

• Understanding structure, braces, and balance.

Extension Options (for students who complete early):

• Redesign & retest with different folding method
• Try increasing the gap to 40 cm

Mid-Point Discussion Prompt:
“How can we use shape to support weight better? Can paper be strong?”

Wrap-Up: Drop test: start with one book and increase until collapse. Record result on board.

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Challenge 3 — Wearable Wonder (30 minutes)

Objective: Design and create a wearable item (hat, glasses, tie, belt, bracelet, etc.) that must be worn by a group member in a fashion runway walk at the end.

Prompt:
Your team has been hired by a ‘sustainable fashion label’ to create a bold, stylish accessory for kids, using recycled materials.

Materials:

• Half a newspaper per group
• 80 cm masking tape
• Scissors (one set per group — monitor safety)

Creative Criteria:

• Must feature one rolled or twisted element
• Must be symmetrical
• Must be wearable and can stay on during a quick walk

Skills Focus:

• Aesthetics, function, and presentation

Mid-Point Sketch: All groups pause to draw what they are aiming to create.

Showcase (5 minutes):
Each group selects one walker and struts along a tape-marked runway strip. Round of applause and a quick cheer vote for most:

• Creative
• Realistic
• Funny

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Reflection & Digital Integration (15 minutes)

Technology Wrap Activity:
Have each student take a photo of their group’s final product using a class iPad. Open Book Creator or Keynote and have students create a one-slide digital reflection answering:

1. What did you learn about building with paper?
2. What was your role and best idea?
3. What would you do differently next time?
   (Dyslexia-friendly option: use Apple’s Speak Selection feature or allow for audio recordings instead of written responses.)

Optional Extension:
Advanced learners can add an annotated diagram of their structure or costume piece, labelling folds, support strengths and weak points.

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Differentiation Strategies

For Diverse Learning Needs:

• Provide visual example cards for each challenge.
• Allow verbal or pictorial planning for students with dyslexia or language barriers.
• Support with scaffolding questions at each challenge: e.g. “What’s stopping it from balancing?”
• Use timers and role cards for students who benefit from structure.

For Advanced Learners:

• Offer an extra challenge: "Use only one sheet of newspaper and make your object fly, slide or roll."
• Encourage peer mentoring by assigning leadership roles to rotation.

ESL/Visual Learners:

• Provide illustrated instructions with icons for tape, paper and ‘no glue/staples’.
• Use hands-on demonstration before each challenge.

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Assessment & Feedback:

Formative Observation: Teachers watch for collaboration, trial and error, and use of vocabulary like “balance”, “stable”, “fold”, “load”, “weight”, “symmetrical”.

End Lesson Quiz (5 mins optional): Try a fun true/false quiz on paper strength (e.g. “A crumpled ball of paper is stronger than a flat sheet – true or false?”)

Teacher Note:
Take photos throughout the session for classroom display or digital portfolios. These provide visual evidence of the Design and Technologies strand and foster community engagement.

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Resources Required:

• Stack of old newspapers (1 per group per challenge)
• Roll of masking tape (can be cut into 1m lengths ahead)
• Rulers and measuring tape
• Chairs or stacks for bridge challenge
• Class iPads or laptops for digital reflection
• Scrap paper and pencils for planning

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Closing Notes for Teacher

This lesson mixes structured problem solving with wild creativity—ideal for students needing both skill-building and self-expression. It encourages trial-and-error thinking, communication, and celebrating (or laughing) at "flop designs" alike.

Keep plans flexible—students may surprise you by building a wearable bridge or a tower that becomes a scarf. Let them explore.

This isn’t just making with newspaper—it’s engineering futures, fostering imagination, and practising reflection in vibrant, differentiated ways.