Taster Workshops for School Classes

Who can build the tallest skyscraper? Who will construct the bridge with the longest span?
This hands-on activity is designed to explore which factors influence both the stability and the aesthetic quality of structures.

Steel and spaghetti share similar physical properties. That is why spaghetti can be used to create structural models comparable to steel constructions.

Instructions

Students work individually or in teams to create their own spaghetti structures.
They can choose to build a skyscraper, a bridge or a free-form structure.
In doing so, they engage with concepts such as span length, load-bearing capacity and stiffness in steel constructions. Geometric principles and repetitive modular systems may also come into play.

Workshop Structure

Step 1: Introduction – Structures and Industrialisation
An introduction to the history of bridge or skyscraper construction provides the foundation for the workshop. This is also a story of industrialisation and thus of steel engineering. The introduction may take the form of a guided discussion, short video or expert talk.

Step 2: Experiment and Build
Based on the chosen theme, students decide whether to build a skyscraper, a bridge or a free-form structure. Using spaghetti, glue and optional mini marshmallow beads, they explore structural design through trial and error.
Teachers or facilitators should support the process by offering guidance on trusses, diagonals and joint connections. Modular systems may be introduced, encouraging repetition and pattern-based construction.

Step 3: Stability Testing
At the end of the workshop, the different constructions are presented and discussed.
Height, span length, cantilever or load-bearing capacity are tested and compared.
This part of the activity may also take the form of a competition, with a winning team, motivating participants to create bold and innovative structures.

This workshop aims to introduce young people to the topic of upcycling in architecture as well as in everyday life. Participants learn to sharpen their awareness of designed spaces and to develop creative ideas further.

In addition to raising awareness for architecture, the workshop also encourages a deeper reflection on the topic of waste. What kind of waste do we produce every day? What materials could be reused or repurposed? And how can design and architecture emerge from waste?

 

Instructions

Working in groups of four to six, students come up with ideas, design and build architectural objects such as a chair, table or lounger – using discarded materials. These materials are collected in the weeks leading up to the workshop or sourced elsewhere. The focus is not only on materials and design, but also on the users of the objects.

Workshop Structure

Step 1: Analysing Seating Furniture and Sitting Positions
A chair is not just a chair. In the first part of the workshop, students get to know and analyse various types of seating furniture. The aim is to understand how such furniture is used and which dimensions are required. A person’s sitting position on a dining chair is very different from that on a deckchair. Students measure their own bodies and sketch out different seating types in groups. Each group then selects a seating design and a material. Everything is sketched and dimensioned in advance.

Step 2: Understanding and Reusing Materials
Once the material is selected, students start building and testing individual components. The stability and sturdiness of the entire piece of furniture provides insights into possible adjustments in construction. This process allows students to explore and apply the specific properties of different materials in new ways. The concepts of recycling and upcycling may also be introduced and discussed.

Step 3: Reflection and Presentation
In the final phase, students are invited to present their seating objects. They are encouraged not only to showcase the final product, but also to explain the process that led to its creation. Based on sketches, drawings and working models, an exhibition is curated that presents their engagement with recyclable materials – and can be shared with invited guests such as parents and friends.

Designers and architects often draw inspiration from nature. This connection can lead to new and innovative ideas in entirely unexpected ways. In this workshop, vegetables and fruit serve as inspiration for architecture and spatial design.

The workshop focuses on developing creativity, innovation and spatial imagination. It is designed to stimulate students’ creativity and encourage playful exploration.

Instructions:
The workshop is based on a variety of fruits and vegetables. When choosing materials, it is important to select items that allow for complex and spatial interpretation. At the beginning of the session, examples from architecture and product design inspired by nature can be shown to set the tone.

Workshop Structure:
Step 1: Selecting and Preparing Materials
With a single precise cut, participants divide their chosen fruit or vegetable into two halves. They observe and examine the internal structure, especially the hollow spaces and chambers inside the object. The unused parts can later be used to prepare a fruit salad, vegetable sticks or a mixed salad as a break-time or end-of-session treat.

Step 2: Drawing the Section
In the next step, students draw a two-dimensional section of one of the halves on a sheet of paper. The drawing should be approximately 30 by 30 centimetres in size. If students prefer to start with a smaller version, they can enlarge their drawing by photocopying it afterwards.

Step 3: Creating Spatial Models
The drawing or its copy forms the basis for constructing three-dimensional structures using paper. In this creative stage, students freely develop new spatial forms. The only rule is that the shape of the drawing serves as the ground plan for the new space. Using paper strips, they can build imaginative and complex spatial enclosures. The resulting models may be presented in a small exhibition and discussed as a group.

Online stores are experiencing high growth rates in all sectors. The question arises as to why exactly they are so successful and what dynamics lead consumers to pay even higher prices online than in traditional retail stores. Introduction to the topic of IT-supported sales (e-commerce) with special consideration of the specifics of this sales channel. Based on the characteristics of digital products, selected phenomena of e-commerce (network effects, lock-in effect) are presented and their effects analyzed.

Technology is finding its way into our everyday lives to an ever greater extent. Innovations such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) form the technological basis for new products and services. This workshop will discuss fundamental concepts of innovation and the associated concepts of change and digital transformation.

What is good leadership? Am I a good leader? Through the design of Lego objects and Lego games, in-depth knowledge in the areas of leadership, team building and management is imparted. At the same time, communication, conflict and team-building skills are (further) developed and initial leadership experience can be gained.

This interactive workshop offers students an exciting introduction to the world of artificial intelligence (AI). Participants will learn how AI works, where it is used in everyday life and explore the ethical challenges of this technology. They will also have the opportunity to apply AI models to practical issues. The workshop imparts practical knowledge and arouses interest in one of the most important fields of the future.

Design thinking is a systematic approach to complex problems from all areas of life. The approach goes far beyond traditional design disciplines such as shaping and design. In contrast to many innovation methods in science and practice, which approach the task from the perspective of technical solvability, user wishes and needs as well as user-oriented invention are at the center of the process.