Part of Lesson Plan: Jewelry Design

Activity Overview / Details

This is a very short (10-15 min.) activity that helps students begin to think about the advantages of forming sheet material. To complete this exercise, the teacher hands out one sheet of standard 8.5 x 11 paper to each student. The students are instructed to form small groups of 3-4.  Each group is given some weights ( stacks of flat washers work well). They are told to fold the paper in half (opened like a book on edge and see how much weight they can support near the fold of the two sides.  They discuss the results. Next they are asked to fold the paper in various ways and see who can support the most weight.  After concluding the activity, they are asked to reflect on how transforming the shape of the sheet by folding helps to increase strength.