Paper towers are often found in science contests at school, but can be made for the fun of it. This paper tower is constructed out of newspaper, with a small amount of tape to connect the different pieces. Try building this tower first, then experiment with different kinds of paper and different tube diameters to see what combination provides the most height. For an extra challenge, try to build a tower that can hold the weight of a golf ball on top.

  • Paper towers are often found in science contests at school, but can be made for the fun of it.
  • For an extra challenge, try to build a tower that can hold the weight of a golf ball on top.

Set the Sunday newspaper on the floor. Tape it into a single bundle so that it does not flap around. This will form a heavy, stable base for the tower.

Roll four extra full-sized sheets of newspaper lengthwise into tubes with a 1-inch diameter. Secure the tube closed with tape.

Stand one of the tubes onto the centre of the Sunday paper. Use four pieces of tape, one per side, to hold it loosely in place.

  • Roll four extra full-sized sheets of newspaper lengthwise into tubes with a 1-inch diameter.
  • Use four pieces of tape, one per side, to hold it loosely in place.

Attach the other three tubes to the tower, extending diagonally from the outer edges of the Sunday paper to the sides of the main tube. Hold them in place on both sides with tape. They will act like the legs of a tripod, stabilising the tower.

Slide additional newspaper tubes onto the top of the tower, holding them in place with tape. Stop and measure the height when the structure begins to wobble under the weight of the main tower.