Build a 13 Storey Treehouse

Published on: Author: cxyz

WALT – We Are Learning To…

find out what different construction materials can do.

WILF – What I’m Looking For…

a tower with as many stories as possible that does not fall down because it is well balanced.

The 13 Storey Treehouse

treehouseAndy Griffiths and Terry Denton work together to create funny books. Andy writes the words and Terry draws the pictures. (Andy is the author and Terry is the illustrator.) They live in a treehouse that started out with 13 stories. Now they have added more rooms and it is up to 65 stories!

 

treehouse_detail

 This is a plan of a small part of their treehouse. [Image source]

Group Challenge

Work with your group to plan and build a tall tower. It can have rooms like Andy and Terry’s treehouse but it’s main requirement is to be TALL.

Materials: Paddle pop sticks, blocks, cards.

Prep, Year 1, Year 2: Use either sticks, blocks or cards

Years 3, 4, 5, 6: Use a combination of sticks, blocks and cards.

Tall buildings that won’t fall.

See your year level Task Sheet for your Success Criteria.

Prep | Year 1 | Year 2 | Years 3 and 4 | Year 5 and 6

How did your group go?

Use the Task Sheet to record your progress.

For the Teacher

From the Australian Curriculum Design and Technologies
Technology Context – Materials and technologies specialisations

Prep 

Knowledge and Understanding

  • Explore characteristics and properties of a range of materials.

Processes and Production Skills

  • Use a variety of materials, tools, equipment and techniques to safely make designed solutions.

Year 1

Knowledge and Understanding

  • Explore the characteristics and properties of materials that are used to produce designed solutions.

Processes and Production Skills

  • Use materials, tools, equipment and techniques to safely make designed solutions.
  • Sequence steps for making designed solutions.

Year 2

Knowledge and Understanding

Explore the characteristics and properties of materials that are used to produce designed solutions.

Processes and Production Skills

  • Use materials, tools, equipment and techniques to safely make designed solutions.
  • Sequence steps for making designed solutions.
  • Begin to evaluate their solutions by asking, ‘How can it be improved?’

Years 3-4 

Knowledge and Understanding

  • Investigate the suitability of materials for a range of purposes.

Processes and Production Skills

  • Select and use materials, components, tools, equipment and techniques and use safe work practices to make designed solutions.
  • Evaluate design ideas, processes and solutions based on criteria for success developed with guidance.

Years 5-6

Knowledge and Understanding

  • Investigate characteristics and properties of a range of materials, systems, components, tools and equipment and evaluate the impact of their use.

Processes and Production Skills

  • Critique needs or opportunities for designing, and investigate materials, components, tools, equipment and processes to achieve intended designed solutions.
  • Apply safe procedures when using a variety of materials, components, tools, equipment and techniques to make designed solutions.
  • Critique needs or opportunities for designing, and investigate materials, components, tools, equipment and processes to achieve intended designed solutions.