Marshmallow Design Challenge
Introduction
An extremely fun and educational way to reinforce key concepts of the practice, Challenge the Process. This is an easy activity that requires minimal space and very few supplies to perform.
Group Size
No more than 5 people per team. If the total group size is just 5 or 6 people, divide the group into teams of 3, if at all possible. Team size is more important than total number of participants involved in the activity.
Time Required
45 minutes or less
Material
Each team needs 1 yard of tape, 1 yard of string, a packet of spaghetti (uncooked, of course), and one marshmallow.
Summary
In this lesson, student teams have a limited period of time to build the tallest free-standing spaghetti structure that can support a marshmallow. They learn how engineers collaborate to design, test, and improve on their ideas, as well as examine hidden assumptions that can derail the creative process and final product.
Learning objectives
Understand the importance of teamwork and failure
Understand that some shapes are stronger than others
Understand that even weak materials can be made stronger with good design techniques, and that distribution of mass is an important consideration when building a tower
Understand that compression and tension affect the stability of a structure
Compare their model to others to understand why some models are stronger than other
4 takeaways from the challenge
1. Define roles before a project starts
2. Iterate to innovate faster
3. Mix skills and personalities in our team
4, Incentives and experience combined boost performance
