• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR THE YEAR >>> ALL ACCESS

  • Home
  • Blog
  • SHOP
    • All Access Math Curriculum
    • Maneuvering Math™
    • Units and Activities
    • School Purchasing
  • SCHOOLS
  • ABOUT
    • Disclosures
    • Terms of Use
  • HELP
    • Help Center
    • Contact
  • LOG IN

Maneuvering the Middle

Student-Centered Math Lessons

  • Lesson
    Planning
  • Math
    Concepts
  • Middle
    School
  • Classroom
    Technology
  • Teacher
    Organization
Posted by Noelle Pickering

The Marshmallow Challenge

4 May

319 shares
  • Share

It is that time of year.  The time you look forward to all year.  But, when it arrives can be difficult, busy, and overall chaotic.

May has arrived.

It is tempting to want students quietly working in their seats, but the reality is that is more difficult that planning some fun, engaging activities.  That is where “The Marshmallow Challenge” proves to be helpful.

“The Marshmallow Challenge”

was originally designed as a leadership and business exercise to be used to jump start a meeting or team.

With a little more structure, it is easily transferable to a classroom of students.

img

The Marshmallow Challenge

Materials per group:

1 – large marshmallow

20 – pieces of spaghetti

1 yard of tape

1 yard of string (not pictured)

1 pair of scissors

1 paper bag to place all of the materials

Assemble enough bags for your classroom and staple them closed.  Depending on the age of your students you may choose to have them work in groups of 2 to 4 students.  Explain to students that everyone has equal supplies and the goal is to create the tallest freestanding structure and the marshmallow must be on top.  Once again, the challenge calls for 18 minutes, but depending on your class you may want to extend that to 30 minutes.

Try it out, the kids will love it!  Then, discuss what was difficult, what they didn’t anticipate, what they would do differently, etc.  A great way to incorporate problem solving and thinking skills into a fun end of the year activity.

319 shares
  • Share

Lesson Planning

Free Digital Math Activities

Digital Activities for 6th - 8th grade Math & Algebra 1
interactive | easy-to-use with Google Slides | self-grading Google Forms exit ticket

Previous Post Bright Idea: Student Response Cards in Secondary
Next Post Happy Teacher Appreciation Day and a new product!

Reader Interactions

4 Comments

  1. Erin Wing says

    May 4, 2014 at 2:42 pm

    This looks so fun! Great idea, and thanks for pinning to our Pin Round Up today!

  2. Karen Greenberg says

    May 4, 2014 at 2:48 pm

    This looks like a lot of fun. I will definitely use this during our leadership hour to reinforce synergy. We are a Leader in Me school, and I am always looking for lessons that are a little bit different to keep my students engaged in learning the Covey Seven Habits.

  3. Chelle Tedrow says

    October 14, 2016 at 8:21 am

    Any suggestions for using this activity with 3rd and 4th graders in October? I would like to start my leadership training lessons with this project. I only have each class for 25 minutes.

    • Noelle Pickering says

      October 24, 2016 at 9:14 pm

      I might use straws instead of spaghetti with students that young. Hope it works out well!

Primary Sidebar

Welcome

Hello, I'm Noelle

Maneuvering the Middle is an education blog with valuable tips for lesson planning, classroom technology, and math concepts in the middle school classroom.

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • Twitter

Our Shop

View All Products

Reader Freebie

How to Teach Dividing Fractions

With Video Tutorials
everything you need to know to teach modeling fraction division

Popular Posts

Math Interactive Notebooks and Vocabulary

4 Classroom Procedures for Middle School

How to Create a Unit Plan

Grading math homework doesn't have to be a hassle.  Read how to grade and organize it efficiently with a homework agenda. 

Grading Math Homework Made Easy

5 Teacher Organization Tips for Middle School

Developing Math Confidence

  • CONTACT
    • FAQ
    • HELP CENTER
  • SHOP
  • TERMS OF USE
    • DISCLOSURES
  • SOCIAL
    • FACEBOOK
    • PINTEREST
    • INSTAGRAM
    • YOUTUBE
  • SCHOOLS
    • REQUEST A QUOTE
    • SUBMIT A PO

© Copyright 2013 - 2023  •  Maneuvering the Middle  •  All Rights Reserved  •  Site Design by Emily White Designs