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Newspaper Tower Challenge

Roll newspaper sheets into tubes and tape them together to build the tallest freestanding tower you can. How high can you go before it wobbles?

Ages 8-12 1-2 hours Education 8/10

Materials

  • Newspaper
  • Ruler
  • Tape

Illustrated Steps

1

Roll Your Tubes

Roll each newspaper sheet tightly around a ruler diagonally, slide the ruler out, and tape the tube closed. Make at least 15.

2

Sketch Your Design

Draw two tower designs on scrap paper focusing on a wide base tapering upward. Pick your favourite before you start building.

3

Build the Base

Arrange 3–4 tubes in a triangle or square and tape all joints twice for a firm, stable foundation.

4

Add Layers

Connect tubes upward and add diagonal bracing between supports to triangulate and strengthen each level.

5

Measure and Compare

Record your tower's height with a ruler, then rebuild using what you learned to beat your own record.

What You’ll Create

Armed with nothing but a stack of old newspapers and a roll of tape, you’re going to design and build the tallest freestanding tower you possibly can! 🏗️ No glue — just clever engineering and structural thinking. The taller it stands on its own, the better your design! Challenge a sibling or friend to build their own tower at the same time and see whose reaches higher.

Have fun!

  • 🏆 Challenge a family member to build their own tower at the same time.
  • ⚖️ Test how many books the top of your tower can hold before it collapses.
  • 📐 Try a completely different base shape (pentagon, hexagon) and compare heights.
  • 🔬 Experiment with tube tightness — does a looser roll change the tower’s strength?

Why It’s Amazing

  • Structural Engineering: Children learn the same principles professional engineers use — triangulation, base width, and load distribution. 🔩
  • Scientific Method: Building, measuring, and iterating is exactly how real scientists and engineers work. 🔬
  • Spatial Reasoning: Sketching before building strengthens 3D visualisation skills essential for maths and science. 📐
  • Resilience: When a tower falls, the lesson isn’t failure — it’s data. Rebuilding teaches persistence. 💪

Pro Tips

For ages 8–10: Focus on height as the only goal — it keeps the challenge simple and exciting.

For ages 10–12: Add engineering constraints — the tower must support a full 500 ml water bottle on top, or must be built in under 20 minutes.

Tip: Diagonal bracing (triangles) is the single most effective technique. If kids are stuck, hint that triangles are used in every bridge and skyscraper.