Bring hands-on STEM learning into your classroom with this Paper Chair Engineering Design Challenge! Students will use the engineering design process to plan, build, test, redesign, and reflect on a paper chair structure that can hold weight.

This activity is perfect for introducing or reinforcing engineering design, force, gravity, stability, structure, prototypes, testing, and redesign. Students brainstorm design ideas, draw and label their chair model, test how much weight it can hold, record trial data, analyze failures, and complete CER-style reflection questions.

This resource also includes a PowerPoint to help guide students through the challenge, expectations, directions, and discussion.

What’s Included

• STEM Paper Chair Challenge student pages
• Brainstorming and design planning section
• Drawing and labeling space
• Testing data table for multiple trials
• Data analysis and reflection questions
• CER: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning questions
• Real-world engineering extension questions
• PowerPoint presentation for teacher/student guidance

Students are asked to reflect on the engineering problem, chair stability, material strength, weak points, redesign improvements, gravity, force, and real-world structures.

Great For

• STEM class
• Science labs
• Engineering design units
• Force and motion connections
• Team-building activities
• Back-to-school STEM challenge
• End-of-unit review
• enrichment