The Duckling Zip Line Challenge
with Karen Zwick, Cold Spring School Teacher & Seedlings Technology Director
The Duckling Zip Line Challenge is based on the notion that a teacher’s understanding of how students learn is vitally important. Learning should be purposeful, situated or contextualized, anchored in real-world experience, and actively constructed. This occurs through problem-solving and inquiry, debating and discussing, application of learning, and motivation.
This project was a hit with teachers at our 2022 Summer Workshop. Watch this short recap video and then see below to see how you can implement in your classroom!
The Design Challenge
You have been brought together as a group of engineers to design a device that safely delivers Merganser Ducks to the ground. Create a model of your structure using any amount of the materials provided. Your model must deliver the duckling within four seconds or mother Merganser will get suspicious.
Specifications and Suggestions:
- A member of your group might investigate ideas from other groups.
- Evaluation criteria: creativity, stability, innovation, how a group works together, and presentation.
- Materials will be provided for each group.
Design & Observation Tips
- Encourage groups to involve every member in the effort.
- Notice how group members work together and the strategies that everyone uses.
- What are group members doing that seems to hinder or help group performance?
- What kinds of roles emerged during this exercise?
- Was there a leader?
- Did one person take control?
- Did individuals have specific tasks?
What You'll Need
- Plastic or Paper Cups
- Straws
- Masking Tape
- Fishing Line and/or Cotton String
- Paper Clips
- Washers or Coins
- Skewers, Wooden Chopsticks, or other
- Chipboard or Thin Cardboard (Cereal boxes work well.)
- Ping Pong Balls (for "Duck Eggs")
- Scissors
- Hole Punch
This activity was adapted from PBS Kids. See below for their activity sheet and link.
The Zip Line Challenge in the Classroom
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