Try this fun and creative clothespin and popsicle stick tower challenge to help kids develop problem-solving skills while having fun with this craft stick engineering challenge! Setting up the clothespin and craft stick tower in the classroom is easy, and makes a great jumping-off point for any study on architecture, engineering, building, or fine-motor skills! This project will be a favorite addition to your list of engineering projects for kids.
All you need to set up this clothespin and popsicle stick tower challenge are clothespins and craft sticks.
Before starting the craft stick tower challenge, show students a variety of tower structure styles and discuss how different shapes and structures can increase stability in tall towers.
Encourage students to experiment with different designs and structures, and to problem-solve as they encounter challenges along the way.
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Perhaps one of the sticks keeps falling over, or the tower keeps leaning to one side. These are all opportunities for the kids to use their critical thinking skills and come up with solutions. As they build, the children will also be honing their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
By manipulating the clothespins and sticks, they will be developing their dexterity and precision.
This activity is also a great way to encourage teamwork and collaboration, as kids can work together to build the tower.
Clothespin and Popsicle Stick Tower Learning Targets
The craft stick and clothespin tower building challenge contains several sneaky educational benefits.
The craft stick tower building activity teaches children the basics of structural engineering and to experiment with different designs and structures without fear of failure.
When students work together in teams, they learn how to collaborate and communicate effectively with one another, building essential skills for project collaboration in the future.
The clothespin and popsicle stick tower activity can be easily adapted to different ages and skill levels. For younger children, building a tower with clothespins and craft sticks is a simple yet satisfying task that helps to improve their hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.
The tower engineering challenge can be modified for older students by introducing more complex designs and encouraging them to problem-solve as they build.
Supplies Need for the Clothespin and Popsicle Stick Tower
You may already have the supplies you need for this activity in your classroom or home already!
This engineering challenge takes just 3 supplies:
- Clothespins
- Craft sticks
- Clothespin tower STEM worksheet (grab it from the box below!)
Clothespin and Popsicle Stick Tower STEM Extensions
A versatile and engaging project that can be adapted to include various STEM principles.
By adding challenges and variations to the activity, participants can develop their problem-solving and critical thinking skills while also learning about STEM concepts.
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For one variation, try this STEM extension! Participants are tasked with building a tower that can hold a certain amount of weight at a specific height.
This challenge requires participants to consider the physics of balance and weight distribution as they build their structure.
Students must also be strategic in their design choices to ensure their tower can withstand the weight and height requirements.
This variation challenges participants to think about the strength of their design and how to distribute the weight of the load evenly. They must also consider how to make their bridge more stable to withstand the weight of the load.
Another STEM extension idea requires students to build towers that withstand certain conditions- such as wind, earthquakes, or flooding.
More Engineering Designs for Kids
Looking for more engineering projects for kids? Check out some of these other simple engineering activities!
- Bridge Strength Test Spaghetti Engineering Project
- How to Design a Paper Airplane Engineering Challenge
- How to make a LEGO Sports Car Engineering Challenge
- Even more Engineering Projects
Clothespin and Craft Stick Tower Lesson Plan
Below, find a simple no-prep lesson plan that you can use alongside this activity to maximize the learning and comprehension of students in your classroom, or your kids at home!
Don’t forget to grab the FREE clothespin tower STEM worksheet to go along with this engineering activity!
Get the lesson plan for this engineering activity below! You can print it out or view it from your computer or phone while completing the lesson.
Craft Stick Tower Lesson Plan
Grab this lesson plan for the clothespin and popsicle stick tower hands-on engineering challenge! Challenge students to build the tallest tower using just craft sticks and clothespins.
Materials
- 📦 Materials (per team)
- 50 craft sticks (standard size)
- 25 wooden clothespins
- Ruler or tape measure
- Timer or stopwatch
- Paper and pencil for sketching designs
Instructions
🌟 STEM Lesson Plan: "Tower Power" Engineering Challenge
- Grade Levels: 3rd–8th
- Subject Areas: Engineering, Math, Science (Physics – forces & stability), Design Thinking
- Duration: 45–60 minutes
- Group Size: Teams of 2–4 students
🎯 Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson, students will:
- Understand basic engineering principles related to structure and stability.
- Collaborate and communicate effectively to solve a design challenge.
- Apply the engineering design process to build a tall and stable structure.
- Reflect on successes and challenges during the building process.
🧭 Lesson Procedure
Here is how to complete the lesson!
1. Hook (5 minutes)
Start by asking:
“Have you ever built a tall tower with blocks or other materials? What helped it stand tall without falling?”
Briefly show images of famous towers (e.g., Eiffel Tower, CN Tower) and talk about balance, base width, and symmetry.
2. Introduce the Challenge (5 minutes)
Goal: Build the tallest free-standing tower using only craft sticks and clothespins
Rules:
- No tape, glue, or other materials.
- The tower must stand on its own for at least 10 seconds to qualify.
- Teams may not use additional supports (walls, desks, etc.).
- You’ll have 25 minutes to build.
3. Plan & Design (10 minutes)
Teams sketch out a rough design.
Encourage students to think about a wide base, interlocking parts, and balance.
Prompt questions:
4. Build (25 minutes)
Set a timer.
Monitor teams for teamwork, communication, and design thinking.
Offer support with guiding questions.
5. Test & Measure (5 minutes)
Each team presents their tower.
Measure and record the height of each structure.
Test stability (can the tower stand for 1 minute? Can it stand when a fan blows on it? Can it stand when the structure it is standing on is shaken?).
6. Reflect & Debrief (5–10 minutes)
Ask discussion questions:
- What design strategies worked well?
- What challenges did you face?
- If you could redesign your tower, what would you change?
- What real-world engineers might work on problems like this?
📘 Extensions & Differentiation
Advanced: Introduce constraints like weight limits or wind tests (blow gently or use a fan).
Elementary Adaptation: Reduce number of sticks/pins or show an example structure to spark ideas.
Cross-curricular: Connect with math (measuring height, angles) or history (famous towers and their designs).
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As a bonus, the clothespin tower activity encourages teamwork and collaboration among student groups.
By working together to build the tallest tower, students learn how to communicate effectively, listen to one another, and share ideas which are vital skills for adulthood.