2.  At the beginning of the event, each team will receive an identical bag of materials.  They will have 40 minutes to build a structure/device that can be tested  The materials and structure will not be announced until the competition starts

3.  The team can only use the materials that were given to them by the judges  There are two scoring dimensions › Primary:The main measurement that determines the winner › Secondary:The measurement used to break ties

4.  Students may bring: › 1 pair of scissors › 1 ruler › 1 pair of pliers  Nothing else will be allowed

5.  Bridges  Towers  Cantilevers

6.  Longest/tallest  Longest/tallest to hold a certain load  At least a certain height/length that can hold the most

7.  This event is hard to coach, because it is hard to teach students to think outside the box  You can teach them: › Good engineering principles › Good building techniques › How to work together (to an extent)  Learning to think creatively requires practice and lots of it

8.  Tension : the member is being “pulled” on

9.  Good Tension materials: › Straws › String › Pipe cleaner (wire) › Paperclips › Paper

10.  Compression :the member is being “squished”

11.  Good Compression Materials: › Straws › Toothpicks › Popsicle sticks › Cups › Rolled up paper

12. Legs Load Platform Cross Bracing

14. Counter Balance Table Load Applied Here

15. Good: Doubled up straws for legs Triangles for bracing Bad: Not level

16. Good: Very level Triangles for bracing Bad: Legs are single straws instead of double

17. Good: Very level Triangles for bracing Multi-strawed legs Bad: Added extra materials just to use them

18.  Conserve materials in case you have to reuse something  Cut tape in half  Unravel string  Bring good tools (especially scissors)  Practice, practice, practice  Practice with different materials  Save straw wrappers