One Minute Marshmallow Engineering Challenge
It’s cold out. We have been stuck indoors for days and the kids are bored. B.O.R.E.D. BORED! So I needed to come up with something fun, exciting and that took minimal time to set up. We came up with a Marshmallow Engineering Challenge that was not only fun, it was a great learning experience that had the kids working as a team. Win!
Marshmallow Engineering Challenge
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After our success making marshmallows that taste soooo much better than the store bought ones, I discovered I had a lot of marshmallows that we needed to use up. No one had any interest in eating them after tasting homemade ones. This made them the perfect tool for an afternoon of fun challenges.
What You Need To Do the Marshmallow Engineering Challenge
Marshmallows – Jumbo, regular and you can use minis too if you have them.
Toothpicks
Skewers
Chopsticks (we have a drawer full, so we used them but they aren’t necessary)
12 inch ruler
Timer – I have a dragon hour glass that I have had for years. There is something fun about it that makes the countdown seem even more exciting! Mine lasts 5 minutes… oops! Should have confirmed that before starting!
Marshmallow Engineering Challenge
The challenge is relatively simple:
Using the items provided build a structure at least 12 inches tall that will support a jumbo marshmallow at the top, without tipping over, before the timer runs out.
To make it more challenging, limit the number of marshmallows, toothpicks and skewers provided or increase the height requirements.
Not surprisingly my oldest found this challenge relatively easy, but it turned into a great learning experience for my youngest. At first he was very focused on just making it tall enough to reach 12 inches. Quickly he realized just stacking the marshmallows wasn’t going to work, they kept tumbling. So he used a skewer through the middle to hold them all together.
He kept measuring and adding more marshmallows to his skewered tower. Finally he was at 12 inches, but there was a problem, his stack kept falling over.
By this time his brother was done with his design, and it was standing strong. So he came over and helped his little brother figure out ways to adapt his build so it would stay up.
The boys had a lot of fun. Although even after all the fun and games were over, they still didn’t want to eat those store bought marshmallows. My boys have been spoiled by homemade marshmallows!
Up the STEM Factor with Geometry
After you have done the challenge try this marshmallow engineering challenge with your kids.
We didn’t want those marshmallows to go to waste, so we reused them to make a quick batch of marshmallow play dough plus we did some Marshmallow Squish Painting.
It was a great day of marshmallow fun!
More Marshmallow Fun!
