Fruit & Vegetable Building

FRUIT & VEGETABLE ENGINEERING Students can create elaborate structures that really hold together using grapes, carrots and celery. The bonus is eating the joints and fittings when the project is done.





HOW TO PRESENT IT TO YOUR GROUP: 1. Thoroughly wash all fruit and vegetables. 2. Dice and/or slice vegetables into 1/4"-1/2" pieces. 3. Have all engineers, architects and construction workers thoroughly wash their hands. 4. Put plates with toothpicks, fruit and vegetables in front of each student. 5. Replenish supplies and encourage elaborate structures.

THE LESSON: If this activity had a technology component (motorized appendages?) it would encompass all the S.T.E.A.M.—science, technology, engineering, art and math criteria. Some students will cover science by constructing what look like DNA strands. We talk about engineering stronger structures by comparing the strength of triangular supports to cubes. Artists among us build beautiful structures and mathematicians make a variety of geometric shapes.