The Great Index Card Tower Challenge
Activity Goal
Work together in a small team to build the tallest freestanding tower you can using only index cards and clear tape. A freestanding tower stands entirely on its own base without leaning against walls, chairs, books, or hands. When time runs out, your finished structure must also hold the weight of one standard wooden pencil on its highest point for ten seconds.
Allowed Materials
Before you begin, send one team member to the supply table to collect your materials kit. Each group receives:
- 50 standard blank index cards (3 inches by 5 inches)
- 1 roll of clear classroom tape
- 1 pair of student safety scissors
- 1 wooden 12-inch ruler
- 1 unsharpened wooden pencil (for the final balance test)
No other items may be used in your tower. You may cut, fold, roll, or tear your index cards, but you cannot tape your structure to the table surface, the floor, or any surrounding furniture.
- freestanding:
- Standing upright entirely on its own base without leaning against walls or supports.
- structure:
- Something that is built or put together from parts, such as a building or tower.
- diagram:
- A simple drawing or sketch that shows how parts fit or work together.
- prisms:
- Solid, three-dimensional shapes with matching flat ends and straight sides.
- cylinders:
- Tube-like shapes with straight parallel sides and circular ends.
- platforms:
- Flat, raised surfaces that provide a level floor to support upper layers.
- stability:
- The ability of a structure to stay balanced, steady, and upright without falling.
One passage, many ways to practice
Reading-skill questions, word work and writing prompts — all built from this text.
Main Idea
Identify the central idea and explain how important details develop it.
Context Clues
Use clues in the passage to work out what words mean. A separate printable Vocabulary worksheet is also available.
Summarize
Select, organize, and restate the most important information without adding opinion.
Structure
Analyze how sections and organizational choices build the text's ideas or effects.
Vocabulary
Practice words from the passage with a printable worksheet.
Writing Prompts
Use the passage as a springboard for short written responses, from personal reflection to evidence-based arguments.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1What two conditions must the finished tower satisfy to complete the activity goal?
- 2Why are students instructed to fold or roll the cards instead of leaving them flat?
Where this passage belongs
About this instructions passage for 3rd Grade
“The Great Index Card Tower Challenge” is a instructions reading passage about stem engineering activity, written for 3rd Grade. It takes about 4 minutes to read (642 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.