How Long is a Piece of Paper?

Challenge
A standard piece of paper is 11” in length and 8” in width. But is that the longest length a single piece of paper can be if modified? What if you bend or rip the paper? Can you make it a longer than 11" without making multiple pieces? The single piece of paper must stay as one connected whole. Your job is to find out how long you can make a single piece of paper. Once you've created the longest piece of paper with your group, you can measure it using the appropriate tool.

Your longest piece of paper design does have some criteria and constraints. You will only get one piece of paper. If your paper becomes two pieces, the group should choose one of those pieces to continue the task. All changing of the paper must be done without any cutting tools. You and your group should try to design and create the longest single piece of paper following these guidelines.

Materials

• piece of 8.5” x 11” scrap paper

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Hints and Tips for Success

1. Allow students planning and discussion time by having them experiment with a sample piece of paper to see how rips and tears can design the outcome.
2. After experimenting, allow student groups to plan their final creation. Warn students that the final piece of paper will be the only one given for their design.
3. For differentiation, adjust the size of the paper, type of paper, allow scissors, or time allowances. Adjustments could be made to make it more challenging or simpler.
4. Connect to mathematics by having students using different measuring instruments and practicing reading them, graphing the groups’ paper lengths, and taking a look at symmetry.
5. Connect to science (if using different kinds of paper) by discussing the different properties each piece of paper has and how it affects the design outcome.
6. Connect to art by decorating the paper after it’s been designed to decorate the classroom for the next event.