Our simple paper building blocks are a great way to demonstrate engineering for kids. Most paper crafts revolve around creating something fancy out of paper, but did you know that you could use paper as a structural material? Take a material that is weak in and of itself, fold it into a robust shape, like a triangle, and viola, you are now building with paper!

How strong is it? Well, make a few blocks, build a paper structure, and put it to the test! You’ll never guess what we tested ours with……check out the results below.

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I originally spotted the idea for paper blocks in one of our favorite books Big Book of Science Things to Make and Do. Simple, colorful, and educational, the best type of project to do!

If you love paper toys, check out our Play Pack:

Paper Building Blocks

Age Appropriateness: 6+, Adult help with cutting and scoring

Materials

• Thick colored paper (we purchased ours at IKEA but this would make awesome blocks)
• Paper cutter (optional)
• Xacto Knife straightedge, cutting mat
• Tape

Notes:

• Our building blocks are based on a 1-inch module, increase the size proportionally to make bigger blocks
• Adults should be in charge of Steps One-Four
• Kids can take over at Step Five

Paper Building Blocks Instructions:

• Step One Select your first piece of paper and place it on your cutting mat. Score your paper vertically at the 1-inch and 2-inch marks and trim your paper completely at the 3-inch mark. To score paper, lightly drag your Exacto blade along your straightedge, making a light line in the paper. This will make folding easier.
• Step Two Repeat the scoring and trimming process with each color of paper.
• Step Three Trim the lengths of scored paper crosswise into 1-inch strips. If you have a paper cutter this would be the fastest method for cutting. I don’t have a paper cutter (I know, can you believe it, a paper lover like me without a paper cutter?) so I trimmed it the old fashioned way with an Exacto and a straightedge.
• Step Four Cut some paper “planks,” 1-inch strips of paper that are not scored. They can be 3 to 6 inches long.
• Step Five Fold your 1-inch strips into thirds along the scored lines.
• Step Six Tape the open edges together to form a triangle.
• Step Seven Repeat folding and cutting until you have a bunch of blocks assembled.

You’re done! Now it’s time to build!

Start positioning the triangles in a row alternating between triangles that are right side up and upside down. Add a plank or two on top of each layer. When you have a few layers you can test how strong your paper structure is by balancing objects on top of it!

Our heavy metal straightedge was the first test and….it passed! But the piece de la resistance was my son’s desire to balance Oreos on top of the structure. His paper structure definitely passed the “Two Oreo Test!”

Looks Like

Shigeru Ban, one of my all time favorite architects. He actually builds out of paper, not just furniture or objects but BUILDINGS! Check out his paper Church here: Takatori Catholic Church

He typically uses paper tubes as structural elements in many innovative, sometimes temporary, often permanent structures. His recent Cardboard Cathedral in New Zealand is a great example of the versatility of paper Cardboard Cathedral

Paper Structures

I think I had the most fun building with these simple paper building blocks! Using multicolored paper definitely glammed up this simple science project for kids that illustrates basic engineering principles.  Have fun with selecting objects to test the strength of your finished structure. Just be sure to pick objects that are easy to balance otherwise your paper structure might topple over due to balance issues rather than “folding” under the pressure of weight, no pun intended!

Who would have thought paper crafts for kids could be used to teach engineering?

More simple engineering projects for kids

Here are three more simple engineering set-ups for kids:

Skewer Structures

Clay & Wood Block Structures

Toothpick Structures

Have you seen our PAPER TOYS PLAY PACK?

It includes 7 paper toys you can download, print, and play with today!

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