Earthquake Challenge

Objective:

Build the tallest possible structure that can withstand the shake of an earthquake

Real-World Connections

Earthquakes have been wreaking havoc on this Earth since the beginning of our time, with the earliest human record occurring in 1177 B.C. As civilizations rose and crumbled through earthquakes over the years, engineers have evolved their practice of constructing structures that can withstand an earthquake using techniques like bracing systems, shear walls, and more.

In this challenge, students step into the real-world roles of engineers, designers, builders, and inspectors to:

Reinforce structures through bracing systems and shear walls
Experiment with materials and joints to reinforce weak points
Design structures for load-bearing by testing how weight affects structure strength and deflection
Observe cause and effect scenarios to improve designs through hands-on testing and iteration

Materials & Constraints

Students don’t get unlimited resources — just like real life. Each challenge is solved within a budget system where students choose from materials like:

Wooden studs (of various sizes and shapes)
Fasteners (string, rubber bands, pipe cleaner, and tape)
Creative elements (chipboard, paper, markers)

With each decision, students are learning to balance trade-offs between design, structural integrity, and resource-use.

Example Solutions

Every solution is different. There is no single “right” build — only more effective solutions.

Challenge Format

Makers challenges are designed to be flexible and can be adapted to fit a variety of schedules, age groups, and program needs, including condensed pilot formats that deliver core experiences and measurable student outcomes in as little as 1 - 2 classes.

4 - 12 Classes

Program Duration

45 - 75 Minutes

Lesson Length

Gr 3 and Above

Typical Age Appropriateness

Curriculum Alignment

The Earthquake Challenge supports hands-on learning across core academic and technical standards

Math - Measurement & Data

NGSS - Physical Science

ELA - Speaking & Listening

CTE - Engineering & Design

Ready to bring this challenge to your students?

Get in touch and we’ll help you customize a program that fits your schedule and age group.

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Team Roles & Career Connections

Students take on defined roles within their teams so no one sits on the sidelines and every team operates like a real crew.

Leads the build strategy and guides the team’s decisions about resource-use and presenting and story-telling.
Constructs the design and makes real-time adjustments during the build to better meet the challenge’s requirements.
Plans aesthetic enhancements and creative elements in each challenge to balance form with function.
Tests for weak points in the team’s solution and evaluates against challenge requirements to recommend improvements.

What Students Take Away

Beyond the build, students develop skills that transfer across subjects and into real life.

Engineering & Technical Skills

Structural design and reinforcement
Load bearing under lateral forces
Measurement & precision
Material & resource optimization

Critical Thinking Skills

Trade-off decision-making
Iteration & improvement
Cause-and-effect reasoning
Problem-solving under constraints

Collaboration

Communication
Shared ownership of outcomes
Resilience through testing and iteration

The Makers Process

Here’s a glimpse at what students actually do

Key Vocabulary & Engineering Concepts

Students build a shared language for the challenge and relevant engineering concepts by making real-world connections with their surroundings and personal experiences.
Concepts in Action

Students put these terms and concepts to the test through hands-on practice, building low-fidelity prototypes, testing their designs, and making adjustments through real-time feedback.
Explore & Design

Students begin exploring the challenge materials and experimenting with how they connect, balance, and support weight. Working individually or in small groups, students explore different combinations of materials to understand how they impact performance.
Plan & Build Strategy

Students use their new understanding of the materials (what works & what doesn’t) to plan their designs. With a limited amount of resources, students must make strategic decisions about which materials to use to best meet the challenge requirements.
Build & Iterate

Now in small groups, students bring their ideas to life by building and iterating on their solutions. As they test their designs against the challenge requirements, they identify weak points, make targeted improvements, and add in creative elements that reflect their team’s ideas and identity.
Present & Test

Students share their designs, the strategy behind their decisions, and how they improved their solution over time, oftentimes incorporating story-telling elements along the way. Then they put their build to the test — evaluating performance based on the challenge criteria.