Earthquake STEM challenge: a 4th grade shake table build
What it is: a 4th grade engineering challenge where teams build a small tower from craft sticks and modeling clay, test it on a homemade shake table, then redesign it to stand up to the shaking. Students connect earthquake science to the ways engineers design buildings that keep people safer.
Time: about 45 minutes. Grade: 4th grade.
Materials: per team: 30 craft sticks, a fist-sized ball of modeling clay, tape, and a ruler. For the shake table: a sturdy box lid resting on four tennis balls inside a shallow tray, so the lid can slide. A timer.
- Explain: during an earthquake the ground shakes back and forth. Buildings that are well designed can bend a little and stay standing.
- Set the rules: the tower must be at least 25 centimeters tall and stand on the shake table by itself.
- Teams build their first tower in 12 minutes.
- Test each tower: one student slides the lid side to side with the same motion for 10 seconds while the class counts. Record what happens.
- Talk about what failed: Did it tip? Did joints come apart? Show ideas real engineers use, such as a wider base and diagonal braces.
- Teams redesign for 10 minutes and test again with the same shaking.
- Each team explains one change and whether it helped.
Safety: keep the shake table on the floor or a low table, have the shaker move the lid by hand only, and pick up tennis balls and sticks right away so no one slips.
Differentiation: students who need support start with a sample base already built. Students who are ready test a stronger 15-second shake and add a small clay "roof weight". English learners can use "Our tower ___ because ___."
Quick check: ask a team to name one design change that made their tower more stable and explain why.
Need it for another grade or subject? Ask us on the request page and our team will write it.
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About this resource
- Shared by
- @UpOnlyLearning · Curriculum team
- Posted
- Oct 31, 2026
- Type
- Lesson plan
- Grade
- Grades 3–5
- Subject
- Science
- Language
- English
- License
- Free for classroom, co-op and tutoring use. Please don't resell.