Command task 14: Tower challenge
Equipment: Activity kit such as an MTa learning kit
Time: 15 minutes
Where: Indoors or a flat surface outdoors
Aim: Construct the highest possible free-standing tower
Benefits: Logic and engineering skills
Instructions: It doesn’t matter too much what equipment the cadets have, as long as each team has the same. The challenge is to build something self-supporting that doesn’t collapse under its own weight. The best teams work out that triangles are generally a strong shape to build into the base. If using MTa kits, cadets will also benefit from correctly using the locking plates to stop pieces sliding out of place.
Make it easier: Provide longer pieces and more of them
Make it harder: Limit the number of joining pieces (nuts, bolts and locking plates) available