Books

Materials: An old book, 3 writing utensils, water, a hair dryer, paperclips

The challenge: create something unexpected but you must use all materials in the object!

Crayons

Materials: the sun, 6 crayons, 6 pieces of paper, 6 paperclips

What can you make using just these materials? Be sure to use all of them!

Inspiration

If you need inspiration, check out this blog. They always have great solutions to our challenges!

Games

Use the following materials to make your own board game. It can only have 3 rules. Send us a picture of the game and a description of the rules. Good luck!

Materials: a cereal box
paint
markers
up to 24 bottle tops


You may use scissors and tape in construction.

Design a fish

Use the following materials to design a fish, then see if it will float!

a carboard toilet paper tube
1 sheet of paper
12 inches of aluminum foil
12 inches of packing tape

You may use scissors and permanent markers in construction.

Good luck!

Another Egg Drop

Use the following materials to protect your egg. Drop it from 15 feet and see if it worked -- try and try again -- you can protect it with these materials:


12 inches of string
6 cotton balls
2 small dixie cups
a freezer bag

You may use scissors and 6 inches of tape in construction.

Good luck. If you can film it, send in your film!

Revisiting the One Man Band

I posted this challenge a while back, but here it is again in another form:

Make your own one-man band using only the following materials :

3 rubberbands
2 cardboard tubes of any length
duct tape
a pencil and an eraser
12 inches of tissue paper
3 straws
an empty stapler (no staples)
12 paperclips
a key
a CD

You may use scissors in construction.

Catapult

Create a catapult using only these materials:

a popsicle stick or a ruler
hot glue
duct tape
a cup or a lid
a pipecleaner

Dolls

Use the following materials to create a doll:

2 12 x 12 inch squares of tissue paper
2 pipe cleaners
2 small dixie cups
12 inches of duct tape
one item of your choice

Good luck!

Shoes

Use the following materials to create a wearable pair of shoes: 2 12 x 12 inch squares of fabric or aluminum foil, 48 inches of duct tape, 2 12 x 12 inch squares of cardboard. You may also use scissors and hot glue if necesary. Good luck. Send picures!

Summer Challenges

Use the following materials to build a water wall:

a 4 x 4 foot piece of wood
2 feet of pvc piping
10 paper or plastic cups
10 straws
6 index cards (can be laminated if you want)
duct tape
4 nails
2 items of your choice

You may use a hammer and permanent sharpies as well. Be careful. Have fun. Get wet!

Look at this for inspiration:

Good luck! Send pictures.

Another Idea from Toadhaven

Materials: 100 craft sticks, as many dominoes as you can find, string, straws, and paper and 10 items of your choice.

Create a "bomb"

Watch this first for inspiration:

Frenetic Kinetics! from lunatim on Vimeo.

Inspired by Toad Haven

What you need: Imagination. Magnifying glass. Sun. Wood.

Create a magical piece of art using the sun! Send pics and we'll post. Be careful -- playing with fire is dangerous -- be sure to supervise this one!

Blindfold Drawing

I have been very busy with Charlotte Community School for Girls and have been unable to post new challenges. But, this week, we are going to try a new one at school. It is a variation on other challenges we've done, but a fun one. You need a partner, a blank piece of paper or posterboard, a black sharpie, colored markers and a blind fold. Each person should blindfold themselves and use a black sharpie to draw on the paper or board for 3 minutes. You may draw whatever you like. Then, switch papers and do the same thing again. Once the 6 minutes are up, take off the blindfolds. Exchange papers again. Use the colored markers to finish your masterpiece. Send us the pictures!

Check out these awesome pictures!

Duct Tape

Place a roll of duct tape on the table. The challenge: make something 3 dimensional that represents innovation. Good Luck.

Recycled Art

Take 6 items from your trash bin (not recycling bin) and wash them off. Then, use paint and glue to design something that the world did not know it was missing!

Simple Machines

How many simple machines can you make from 10 paper clips and 2 pieces of 8.5 x 11 paper? Show us!

Rope Bridges

Using yarn, rope, or string, construct a bridge that spans 12 inches and holds as much weight as possible. You may attach your bridge with tape or nails. Send in pictures that show the construction details and the weights on the bridge.

Post It Towers

Can you build a tower from a pad of post-it notes? How high? Good luck.

Pencil Puppets

The materials: pencils, paperclips, nails, saw or knife (be careful!), one other item

Create a puppet that moves. Send in your pics. We're eager to see them.