Illinois teen builds 17.32-foot Eiffel Tower out of toothpicks

An Illinois teenager has set a new Guinness World Record by building a 17.32-foot-tall replica of the Eiffel Tower using around 20,000 toothpicks. Eric Klabel, from Naperville, said his interest in building started at a young age, inspired by his father’s work as a civil engineer.

Klabel previously set a world record in 2021 at just 12 years old by constructing a 20.2-foot tower made from popsicle sticks. Although that record was later broken, he decided to challenge himself again—this time using toothpicks, a much smaller and more difficult material to work with.

Using only glue and toothpicks, Klabel completed the Eiffel Tower model and earned his second Guinness World Record in October. He noted that toothpicks were far more challenging than popsicle sticks because of their tiny size, making the project both demanding and impressive.

Source : https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2025/12/24/Guinness-World-Records-tallest-toothpick-sculpture/2651766600790/

Comprehension

What world record did Eric Klabel break?
What materials did he use to build the Eiffel Tower replica?
Who inspired Eric’s interest in building?
What record did Eric set in 2021?
Why did Eric find toothpicks more difficult to use than popsicle sticks?

Discussion

Why do you think Eric enjoys setting building challenges for himself?
What skills do you think are needed to complete a project like this?
How can family influence a person’s hobbies or career interests?
Would you prefer working with small materials or large ones? Why?
What kind of project would you attempt if you wanted to break a world record?

Vocabulary

Replica – an exact copy or model of something.
Inspired – motivated or influenced to do something.
Medium – the material or method used to create something.
Captured (a record) – successfully achieved or won.
Incredibly – extremely; to a very great degree.