Our Technology Challenge

Collaboration At Work

Hanging By A Thread
The Problem...

After having lost your food pack you journey back to your spacecraft feeling tired and hungry. Suddenly, you see a peculiar 'fruit' dangling from the branch of what looks like a tree. Unfortunately, the 'fruit' hangs over a deep chasm. You must pick, catch and retrieve the 'fruit' to survive!

What did we have to do...

The 'fruit' will be suspended by by a paper clip hook. You will have 15-20mins to complete the task of making a device to pick, catch and retrieve the 'fruit'. You will be given a starting point from which your team will try to retrieve the 'fruit' with your device. You will complete the task when the 'fruit' is placed in the given container. (ice cream container)

You will be given...

4 large sheets of newspaper

2 popsicle sticks

two straws

some blue tac

a magnet

50cm of sellotape

2m of string

The students worked in small groups collaborating together to design and make a device to retrieve the fruit on the other side of the chasm. This is what we cam up with...