Building Big

Newspaper Skyscraper

Skyscraper BasicsThe term "skyscraper" was coined in the 1880s, shortly after the first tall buildings were constructed in the United States -- but the history of tall buildings dates back hundreds of years. Since the Middle Ages, engineers have engaged in a battle for the sky.

Before there were skyscrapers, there were towers

Made of heavy stone, towers had thick, sturdy walls, but the rooms were dark and cramped – too many windows would have weakened the structure.

With steel came the first modern skyscrapers

During the Industrial Revolution, engineers began experimenting with two new materials – iron and steel. The 10-story Home Insurance Building in Chicago was the first tall building to be supported by a steel skeleton of vertical columns and horizontal beams.

New structural designs made skyscrapers even lighter and stiffer

As skyscrapers grew taller and taller, engineers were faced with a new enemy: wind. Today's tallest skyscrapers, which are almost 1,500 feet tall, must be 50 times stronger against wind than the typical 200-foot buildings of the 1940s.

Newspaper SkyscraperYour challenge is to build a skyscraper out of

the newspaper that has been provided for you. Your skyscraper should be tall, strong enough

to stand on its own and it should have structural design that will make your skyscraper unique.Materials- 3 full sheets of newspaper, scotch

tapeNewspaper Skyscraper Challenge sheet

Examples of Skyscrapers

Critical Thinking/Problem Solving What kind of base would be a better option to

use for supporting the skyscraper?