Copyright 2015 by MindWorks Resources Incorporated

All rights reserved. The activities and illustrations within this manual may be reproduced
by the sole individual owner of this publication for single classroom or educational
purposes only and may not be redistributed in part or in whole. This work may not be
reproduced or copied in its entirety in any form or by any means - graphic, electronic, or
mechanical without express written consent from the publisher.

Printed in the U.S.A.

 "It's sort of a mental attitude about critical
thinking and curiosity. It's about mindset of looking at
the world in a playful and curious and creative way."
- Adam Savage

Critical thinking, problem solving, and reasoningwho knew they could be so much fun!
Students have the opportunity to design, create, and build while finding ways to solve a variety
of unusual and challenging problems. The stage is set for each lesson with a creative scenario in
which students must find a solution. There is no right or wrong, just creativity and imagination.
Build-It lessons are open ended and easy to implement. Simply choose a colored section, select a
project, gather the supplies from the kit, and let students critical thinking and problem solving
skills do the rest.

1. Dwellings These are not your average buildings! From tree houses to yurts and dog houses to
geodesic domes, students will design and build dwellings found around the world using unique and
sometimes non-traditional building materials.

2. Move It Design it, build it, test it, modify it! Students delve into the worlds of both common and
uncommon forms of transportation. Theyll be rollin in style after designing the inside of an RV, zippin
along on custom designed zip lines, and even designing cars that can withstand a major impact. Its all
about designing creative ways of getting from one place to another.

3. Its a Challenge The longest span, the highest height, the strongest design, and even the furthest
launch. Students will be given the task of creating designs that rise to the challenge. This section is all
about function over form. Students use everyday materials to design and create amazing structures and
tools.

4. Parks & Rec From the ordinary to the extraordinary, students have the chance to design models of the
perfect parks. Amazing water parks, playgrounds beyond imagination, extreme roller coasters, and even a
dog park, students dream up amazing designs and build models which bring the parks to life.

5. Contraptions Pinball machines, marbles runs, and paper furnitureoh my! The only limitation in
contraptions is the imaginations of the designers. Students fold, tape, glue, twist, and assemble to create
unique and off-the-wall contraptions from simple, everyday materials. These challenges will put creativity
and imagination to the test.
 DWELLINGS
Space Station
Materials Craft sticks, aluminum foil, duct tape, chipboard, clothespins, chenille stems, craft spoons,
blank index cards, Constructaclips, and Tinkertoys or Fiddlestix.

Group Size 3 or more students per group

Preparation None

Instructions
Show students pictures of space stations.
Provide students with the following scenario:
o NASA has just hired you to design a cutting-edge space station where as many as 5,000
people can live at one time. It must include living quarters, working quarters, and docking
stations for incoming spaceships.
Have groups design and create their space station.

MW Twists:
Design and create spaceships to land at the docking stations.

Design a park encapsulated in glass as a recreation spot for the inhabitants of the
space station.
15
 MOVE IT
Zip Line
Materials Chipboard, small paper cups (approximately 3 oz.), ping pong balls, straws, scissors, hole
punch, fishing line, 1-inch washers, wooden skewers, chairs, and a stack of books

Group Size 2 or more students per group

Preparation None

Instructions
Provide students with the following scenario:
o You have been appointed the activity director for a summer camp. Campers have
requested the camp to add a zip line to the fun activities they are able to enjoy during their
stay. You must design a zip line that will transport campers safely down the incline. Safety
is of utmost importance, so you must design and create a prototype of the zip line to show
to the camp administrators.
Show students pictures of zip lines.
Tie one end of the fishing line to the back of the chair, and tie the other end around a pile of
books.
Use the materials to design a zip line that will safely transport a ping pong ball in a cup along a
piece of fishing line.

MW Twists:
Successfully transport items of differing weights.

25
 ITS A CHALLENGE
Straw Structures
Materials Colored straws, clear tape, and tennis balls; if doing MW Twists, you need paper, a variety of
craft supplies, pennies, marbles, and ping pong balls

Group Size 2 or more students per group

Preparation None

Instructions
Provide students with the following scenario:
o You love creating with building blocks, and you can build some amazing structures with
your favorite block sets. However, on a family road trip to see your grandparents, space
is limited, and your parents advise you to leave your blocks at home; you hesitantly
comply. After several hours in the car, you really sense the urge to be creative and build
something. You start looking around the car and find a whole pile of straws from various
fast food restaurants, a roll of tape, and your dogs favorite tennis ball. This sparks a
brilliant idea! You challenge your brother to a competition to see which one of you can
use the straws and tape to build a tower capable of holding a tennis ball on top.
Give each group 25 straws.
Have groups compete to build a tower capable of supporting the weight of a tennis ball.
The group that builds the tallest and strongest tower is the winner.

MW Twists:
Conduct the same challenge, making towers of paper and tape.

Conduct the same challenge with a variety of craft supplies. Test the strength
of the towers with pennies, marbles, ping pong balls, and tennis balls. Which
tower supports the most weight?

33
PARKS & REC
Roller Coaster
Materials Multi-colored construction paper, craft sticks, large sheets of chipboard or foam core,
scissors, masking tape, duct tape, and marbles

Group Size 3 or more students per group

Preparation None

Instructions
Show students pictures of roller coasters.
Provide students with the following scenario:
o You have recently become a roller coaster enthusiast. However, you think you could design
a better roller coaster than those found at your favorite amusement park. Of course, you
realize it will take not only extensive planning but also trial and error to get it right, but
you know you are up for the challenge.
Design and construct a roller coaster made from only paper, tape, and craft sticks.
The roller coaster will be built on a large sheet of chipboard or foam core.
A marble will be used as the roller coaster car.
The following must be included in your roller coaster design:
o The ability for the marble to move all the way from beginning to end without helping to
move it along
o At least two loops
o At least one big dip

MW Twists:
Create a non-traditional type of coaster. Examples of non-traditional coasters
include Mr. Freeze or a skyscraper roller coaster.

Design a miniature roller coaster for young children.

46
 CONTRAPTIONS
Movin' On Down the Line
Materials KEVA Contraptions and ping pong balls; clean recyclables and tennis balls if doing the MW
Twists

Group Size 2 or more students per group

Preparation Gather clean recyclables

Instructions
Show students pictures of conveyor belts.
Provide students with the following scenario:
o It seems like you are always either taking dirty laundry to the laundry room or carrying
clean laundry back to your room. Wouldnt it be nice if you had some way to get
the laundry back and forth without having to carry it? What a great idea for an invention!
Youre excited to use your creativity and give it a try!
Construct a conveyor system using the KEVA contraptions.
The conveyor must curve and transport a KEVA or ping pong ball from one end to the other
without the ball falling off the conveyor.
Test the system, and make modifications as necessary.

MW Twists:
Use a combination of the KEVA planks and clean recyclables to build a conveyor
that moves a tennis ball from one end to the other without the ball falling off
the track.

61