cheap engineering projects

It is more fun if engineering projects can be made from low cost or free materials that are easy to collect or buy.

File cards

• Simple paper bridge – learn how to build a paper bridge whose structure you can change to see how different designs affect the load-bearing capacity.

Drinking straws

• bridges

Craft sticks

• Craft stick bridges – many different designs, varying complexity

File Folders

• bridges

Toothpicks

• Toothpick and marshmallow towers

Food

• Spaghetti and marshmallow towers

Newspaper

• Moon habitat
• Paper table – Make a small table to hold snacks, No hammer or saw required

Plastic bottles

• Balloon-powered bottle car

Other stuff you have around

• Dye detective – markers, water, solvent – rubbing alcohol, cups, coffer filters