This Pot of Gold Tower STEM Challenge is perfect for classrooms, homeschool, or a fun weekend activity. Get ready for lots of creativity, problem-solving, and engineering fun this St. Patrick’s Day!
St Patrick’s Day STEM Challenge
Looking for a fun and engaging St. Patrick’s Day STEM activity? Challenge young engineers with this Pot of Gold Tower STEM Challenge! This hands-on activity encourages kids to think critically, test designs, and explore key STEM concepts—all while celebrating the magic of the holiday. Can they build the tallest and strongest tower to hold a pot of gold?
🔎 Explore all of our St. Patricks Day STEM Activities for kids here.
Recommended Grade Level: This activity is ideal for elementary-aged students (Grades 1-5) but can be adapted for older or younger learners with material modifications and additional challenges.
Pot of Gold Tower STEM Challenge
📖 Oh no! A sneaky leprechaun has lost his pot of gold and needs a safe place to store it. But there’s a catch—he insists it must be placed on the tallest, strongest tower to keep it safe from treasure hunters! Can you use your engineering skills to build the ultimate pot of gold tower to stand tall and hold his precious gold without toppling over?
Can you build the tallest tower strong enough to hold a pot of gold (a small cup filled with coins or objects)? Put your engineering skills to the test and see how high you can go!
💡 The dollar store is a good place to buy mini black pots and fake gold coins to stick with the theme. You can also grab mini paper cups and use pennies instead!
Materials Needed:
- Toothpicks
- Marshmallows
- Playdough
- Spaghetti (uncooked)
- LEGO (optional alternative)
- Small cup (to act as the “pot of gold”)
- Coins or small objects to serve as “gold”
The Engineering Design Process
🔎 Learn more about the Engineering Design Process here and grab a free printable guide.
Encourage kids to follow these key steps as they build their towers:
- Ask: What makes a structure strong and stable? How can we make it tall without collapsing?
- Imagine: Brainstorm different tower designs and predict which will work best.
- Plan: Sketch a simple blueprint or discuss the materials and structure before building.
- Create: Construct the tower using the materials provided.
- Test: Place the “pot of gold” on top and see if the tower holds up. Try shaking the surface slightly to test stability.
- Improve: Make modifications to reinforce weak areas, add height, or increase strength.
Set up the Tower STEM Challenge
💡Grab our Leprechaun STEM Challenge or Leprechaun Escape Challenge!
1. Plan Your Design
- Think about what shape or structure will be the most stable.
- Consider using triangles for strength or a wide base for balance.
2. Build the Tower
- Use toothpicks, spaghetti, and marshmallows/playdough to construct a freestanding tower.
- Try different building techniques to add height while keeping the structure stable.
3. Test the Tower
- Place the small cup (pot of gold) on top of the tower.
- Slowly add coins or small objects to see if it can hold weight.
4. Modify and Improve
- If the tower collapses, rebuild with a stronger base or add support beams.
- Experiment with different materials to see what holds up best.
5. Test Stability
- Lightly shake the surface or use a fan (“leprechaun wind”) to test durability.
- Observe what adjustments make the tower stronger.
Free Printable St. Patrick’s Day STEM Challenge
Use the free printable Pot of Gold Tower STEM challenge to get started.
STEM Challenge Variations
- Height Challenge: See who can build the tallest tower that still supports the pot of gold.
- Strength Test: Test which design holds the most coins before collapsing.
- Leprechaun Wind Test: Use a small fan or gently blow on the tower to see how sturdy it is.
- Limited Materials: Give students a set number of materials and see how creative they can be.
🔎 Check out our spaghetti marshmallow tower challenge for building ideas!
Optional Constraints
To make the challenge more engaging, try adding these constraints:
- Time Limit: Build the tower within 10-15 minutes.
- Material Limit: Allow only a certain number of toothpicks, marshmallows, or spaghetti pieces.
- Height Requirement: The tower must be at least 6 inches tall to qualify.
- Weight Requirement: The pot of gold must hold at least 5 coins without collapsing.
STEM Concepts Explored
🔎 Explore various engineering activities here, including structural, mechanical, and electrical projects.
Forces & Motion: Understanding how gravity, weight, and external forces (like the leprechaun wind test) impact the structure. Real-world connection: Civil engineers test bridges and buildings to ensure they can withstand environmental forces before construction begins.
Engineering: Planning and constructing a stable structure using principles of architecture and physics. Real-world connection: Engineers design buildings, bridges, and towers to withstand weight and environmental factors like wind and earthquakes.
Balance: Distributing weight evenly to prevent tipping or collapsing. Real-world connection: Skyscrapers use a wide base and strong internal supports to remain stable against strong winds.
Structural Design: Exploring how different shapes and materials affect stability. Real-world connection: The Eiffel Tower uses a triangular framework, providing strength and height without excess weight. Check out our Eiffel Tower engineering project.
STEM Challenge Reflection Questions
👉 Free printable list of STEM reflection questions here.
- What tower design worked best? Why?
- What happened when weight was added to the tower?
- How did balance and structure affect the strength of the tower?
- If you could redesign your tower, what would you do differently?
More St Patrick’s Day STEM Activities
Looking for more ways to add STEM fun to your St. Patrick’s Day celebrations? Try these lucky-themed science experiments:
🔎 You can find all our St Patricks Day Science and STEM Activities here.
- Fizzy Baking Soda and Vinegar Pots – Mix baking soda and vinegar in small pots for a bubbling leprechaun cauldron effect.
- Leprechaun Toothpaste – Create an awesome foamy chemical reaction with a St Patrick’s Day theme.
- Leprechaun Escape STEM Challenge – Create a zip line that allows the leprechaun to safely escape while testing different speeds, materials, and designs.
- Lucky Magic Milk Experiment – Add food coloring to milk, touch with dish soap, and watch swirling colors form.
- Oobleck Treasure Hunt – Hide coins in green Oobleck (cornstarch and water) for a fun sensory treasure hunt.
- Homemade St. Patrick’s Day Slime – Make stretchy green and gold slime using glue, baking soda, and saline solution for a festive sensory activity.
- Leprechaun Trap STEM Challenge – Design and build a creative trap using household materials to try and catch a mischievous leprechaun.
Printable St Patrick’s Day STEM Pack
Get ready to catch a Leprechaun, explore fizzy pots, and dig for gold coin oobleck all while exploring simple science and engineering design process with the St Patrick’s Day STEM Pack!
