Spaghetti & Marshmallow Towers
Challenge the family to construct the tallest freestanding structure possible using only dry spaghetti noodles and mini marshmallows as connectors.
- Takes
- 30 min–1 hr
- Your setup
- 5 min prep
- Ages
- Ages 6–8
- Mess
- No mess
- Cost
- $
- Where
- Indoors
How to do it
- 1Lay out materials and set the goal: the tallest tower that can stand unsupported for 10 seconds.
- 2Explain the structural principle: triangles are stronger than squares.
- 3Begin building, using marshmallows to join the spaghetti pieces.
- 4Test the stability frequently; if it collapses, analyze the failure point and redesign.
- 5Measure the final height of the tallest successful structure.
What they're practising
- Structural Engineering
- Spatial Reasoning
- Problem Solving
- Patience and Persistence