This colorful game may be a bit tougher than it seems.
The goal is to stack the plastic cups into a pyramid without ever touching the cups. Students working in partners use “tools” – rubber bands with ribbons tied to them – instead of their hands. Pulling on the ribbons, partners work collaboratively to stretch the rubber bands out to fit over the cup, then lift together and stack.
Thanks to the Northern California STEM Education Foundation for this idea, presented at the annual Sacramento Municipal Utilities District (SMUD) Electricity Fair in Folsom.