Toothpick and Marshmallow Tower Challenge

Who doesn’t love a STEM project that includes a bag of marshmallows! This is one of my favorite, “totally do-able” STEM challenges. It’s super budget-friendly and super simple to set up at a moment’s notice. It’s awesome for both large and small groups too! Building with marshmallows and toothpicks is always a huge hit and a quick way to set up STEM building challenges for kids.

Marshmallows and Toothpicks STEM Challenge

BUILDING WITH MARSHMALLOWS AND TOOTHPICKS

Why is building structures amazing STEM play? To build a solid structure you need a good design, the right amount of pieces, a solid base, and basic engineering skills.  All important aspects of STEM!

What is STEM? STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and math. These are all areas of learning that our kids need to be comfortable with to excel in the future. STEM makes creators, thinkers, problem solvers, doers, innovators, and inventors.

Exposing kids to simple STEM ideas at an early age sets a foundation for higher learning tomorrow. We have many easy STEM projects that preschool and elementary age kids can try!

CHECK OUT THESE STEM RESOURCES

• STEM For Toddlers
• Quick STEM Activities
• STEM Activities For First Grade
• STEAM (Art + Science) Activities

We like to set up fun building challenges using easy and inexpensive supplies. STEM is all about the world around us so let’s encourage kids to use what they have and get creative with their engineering skills!

Want more things to do with marshmallows? Why not make marshmallow edible slime, build a marshmallow spaghetti tower, take the marshmallow catapult challenge or build a marshmallow igloo.

MARSHMALLOWS AND TOOTHPICKS

YOU WILL NEED:

• Marshmallows
• Toothpicks
• Building with Marshmallows and Toothpicks Printable

CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR MARSHMALLOWS AND TOOTHPICKS PRINTABLE!

BUILDING STEM CHALLENGE #1

First, you can have kiddos build the 2D and 3D shapes printed on the cards! This is a great way for them to familiarize themselves with the various shapes.

Plus, it also provides a chance to work on building skills and problem-solving skills on a basic level. This might be just the right level for your junior engineers!

BUILDING STEM CHALLENGE #2: MARSHMALLOW TOWER

Do you have a kiddo who is looking for even more of a challenge?

Take it a step further and combine the building techniques you’ve just tried out with the shapes and see who can build the tallest tower. You can set this as a timed event or leave it untimed! Generally, 15-20 mins is a good amount of time

BUILDING STEM CHALLENGE #3

Try the 100 marshmallow challenge! The kiddos have to build with 100 marshmallows in a set amount of time! Generally, 15-20 mins is a good STEM challenge time frame. This is also a fun team building activity!

MORE FUN STEM CHALLENGES TO TRY

Straw Boats Challenge – Design a boat made from nothing but straws and tape, and see how many items it can hold before it sinks.

Strong Spaghetti – Get out the pasta and test our your spaghetti bridge designs. Which one will hold the most weight?

Paper Bridges – Similar to our strong spaghettti challenge. Design a paper bridge with folded paper. Which one will hold the most coins?

Paper Chain STEM Challenge – One of the simplest STEM challenges ever!

Egg Drop Challenge – Create your own designs to protect your egg from breaking when it is dropped from a height. 

Strong Paper – Experiment with folding paper in different ways to test its strength, and learn about what shapes make the strongest structures.

Spaghetti Marshmallow Tower – Build the tallest spaghetti tower that can hold the weight of a jumbo marshmallow.

Penny Boat Challenge – Design a simple tin foil boat, and see how many pennies it can hold before it sinks.

Gumdrop Bridge – Build a bridge from gumdrops and toothpicks and see how much weight it can hold.

Cup Tower Challenge – Make the tallest tower you can with 100 paper cups.

Paper Clip Challenge – Grab a bunch of paper clips and make a chain. Are paper clips strong enough to hold weight?

FUN MARSHMALLOW TOWER WITH TOOTHPICKS

Click on the image below or on the link for tons more STEM projects for kids.