Brain Break: Paper Cup Columns

Hello again!

Today's post is a quick one. It works both as a Brain Break and as a more standard lesson-type activity, depending on how you use it. It's fun and engaging. Plus, as a bonus - it incorporates a buzzword from the past few years of education - STEAM. For more info on Brain Breaks, see my previous post about the Sticky Step. For more information on STEAM, check out this short page on STEAM Basics.

Preparation: You will need some specific materials, and students assigned to groups (or maybe partners if necessary)

Stacking the Cups

• Paper Dixie Cups (5 oz. size) - 15 per group
• Scissors - 2/3 pairs per group
• Students will also need prior knowledge about the three major classical orders or an explainer sheet (see picture at right)

Goal of the Activity:

Build 3 columns, one Doric, one Ionic, and one Corinthian.

Sample Columns

A majestic Corinthian column	A simple, free-standing Doric column

Victory criteria: 

• The different capitals on the columns must demonstrate knowledge of their features.
• Each column must be 5 cups tall.
• Each column must be free-standing.

Some notes:

• The first time students do this activity, they will probably find it difficult.
•  many of STEAM or STEM activities, you can run it as a
• race (first team to finish wins!)
• challenge (every team that completes the activity wins!) 
• You can increase the difficulty of the activity by adding to the height of each column. 
• If you use it as a Brain Break, you can recycle the cups!
• If, by chance, you used paper cups with the Solo Jazz design, that would be the bomb. :-)

classic, but not classical, cups from the ’90s