![]() ![]() They built towers using different three dimensional shapes. Using our shapes in #2, we discussed the importance of stability in a structure. The kids built simple houses at the beginning, but it didn’t take them long to begin experimenting with adding on and growing their houses (and tree houses!). It may also help reinforce letter structure for those students that sometimes struggle with forming letters. I see so many opportunities for this from practicing the alphabet to spelling names, to snap words. We found fun in the falling – but reward in determining how to get it to stand on its own. Some recognized immediately that their shape wouldn’t stand up with out connecting enough marshmallows and toothpicks. These small structures were great opportunities for the kids to explore support. Building pyramids, cubes, prisms, tetrahedrons, and rectangles (I believe the geometry term is hyperrectangle). Shapes that worked well for us included: triangle, square, rhombus, rectangle, trapezoid, parallelogram, pentagon, hexagon. For younger students this is a great way to reinforce basic geometry. We did not get through ALL of these challenges in one night…but I’m happy to have these ideas all in one place for the next time around. The quick treat break had them back to building in no time and they were engaged and focused even after eating! They did ask me repeatedly for the “good” marshmallows – but I’ll take that over sugared up kids! I handed out marshmallows about 2/3rds of the way through the club time, when I noticed they were getting a little restless. In an effort to curb uncontrolled eating of marshmallows, I told the kids that I had fresh, soft, non-crusty marshmallows for them…I don’t think a single kid ate a crusty marshmallow. Finally, keep some of your marshmallows fresh. We had no problems keeping the interest for an hour with these challenges. Because we’re closing in on Valentine’s Day, we had a little fun with some heart marshmallows I found! Using themed marshmallows adds an additional element of interest. I opened my bags two days early and that was enough to help them get a little crusty and help them stand up better. After a successful Club, I thought you might benefit from this list of ideas, too!Ī few tips before you try this activity: let your marshmallows get stale. I created a list of challenges that I dug up from the internet to use. This past week we had so much fun creating with marshmallows and toothpicks. Our first week we dove right in and taught the students how to use hot glue guns so they could build craft stick truss bridges. The great news is that there are plenty of activities to do with wide ranges of children. ![]() As you know that range is wide in abilities. Our kids meet once a week to do hands-on learning projects. We started a Creator Club a few weeks ago. One classic favorite of mine are marshmallow and toothpick challenges. If the same force is applied to a side of a square, it will eventually shift and change shape under the pressure.STEM Challenges can be low cost ways to incorporate learning concepts in your classroom or maker space. The third part of the triangle at the base then undergoes tension and the combined effect allows if to remain stable. When a force is applied to one of the corners of a triangle it is distributed down each side squeezing them together. Triangles are very good for this but why? When engineers build structures, they need to make sure that the structure can bear weight. In particular triangles offered greater strength when a downward force was applied. You may have noticed that some shapes were stronger than others when you created your structure. Which shapes are the best at making strong and secure buildings?.Then begin to create a 3D shape in the same way by adding more cocktail sticks and jelly sweets. ![]() Continue like this until you have made a 2D triangle or square.Secure another jelly sweet in the other end of the cocktail stick.Carefully pierce a jelly sweet centrally with your cocktail stick.Jelly sweets such as jellybeans or ‘midget gems’.Have you ever made an edible tower? Join us in this activity and see how creative you can be! You will need ![]()
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