Less watching.
More “look what I made.”
Three open-ended challenges. Everyday materials. Plenty of room to do it your way.
Work with an adult who can choose suitable materials and supervise cutting and small parts. Use a clear, stable workspace. Time estimates are flexible—follow your inventor’s pace.
The mighty paper bridge
Your mission: build a bridge across a small gap using one sheet of paper. Then see how a different fold changes what it can hold.
Gather your materials
- Three sheets of the same kind of paper
- Two equal-height stacks of books
- A ruler and pencil
- A few identical small blocks or counters, selected by an adult
Set the challenge
Keep the supports about 10 cm apart. Each design gets one sheet of paper. Keep the gap and test objects the same so you can compare your designs.
Make, test, improve
- Lay a flat sheet between the two stacks. Predict what will happen.
- Add test objects gently, one at a time, in the middle. Stop when the paper bends enough to touch the table or slips off.
- Try a fresh sheet folded back and forth like an accordion. Test it using the same gap and placement.
- Invent a third folded shape. Sketch it first, then test it.
- Record each result in your notebook. What changed? Which design would you improve?
How did the shape change the result? Did your prediction match your test? What would happen with a wider gap?
Keep small test objects away from younger children. Test close to the table; never use a person or a heavy object as the load.
The everyday problem solver
Your mission: notice one small frustration and build a model of something that could help. A pencil that rolls away? A messy art station? Start there.
Gather your materials
- Clean cardboard or a small empty box
- Paper, pencils, and washable markers
- Masking tape
- Child-appropriate scissors, used with adult supervision
Choose your user
Who is your idea for? Ask them what is frustrating and what a better solution might do. Keep the problem small enough to explore with a simple model.
Make, test, improve
- Finish this sentence: “I want to help someone who needs to…”
- Sketch three possible solutions. Circle one to try.
- Build a rough cardboard model. It can show the idea without doing every job of a finished invention.
- Invite your user to look at or try the model safely. Ask what they notice.
- Change one part based on their feedback. Explain how version two is different.
Did you solve the problem you started with? What did your user need that you hadn’t considered? What would you build next?
Adults should handle difficult cardboard cuts. Avoid sharp edges, hot glue, and any design meant to hold a person, food, or electrical equipment.
The wind-powered paper racer
Your mission: make a lightweight paper sled that moves when you fan it. Change the sail and find out which design travels farther.
Gather your materials
- Index cards or light cardstock
- Paper for sails and a larger sheet for fanning
- Tape, pencil, and a ruler
- Child-appropriate scissors with adult supervision
- A smooth, clear tabletop
Keep your test fair
Mark a starting line. Fan from the same distance, with the same number of strokes, for each test. Leave the sled base unchanged when comparing sails.
Make, test, improve
- Fold a small lip upward along the front edge of an index card to make a sled.
- Fold a tab along the bottom of a small paper rectangle. Tape the tab to the sled so the sail stands up.
- Place your racer at the starting line and gently fan the sail with a sheet of cardstock.
- Measure how far it moves. Repeat three times; note whether the results vary.
- Try a taller, shorter, or differently shaped sail. Change one thing at a time and compare.
Did a bigger sail always work better? What made the racer tip or turn? How could you make your next test more consistent?
Fan by hand; no powered fan is required. Keep the test area clear so the racer cannot hit someone or knock objects off the table.