Embedded Files
Age Level: 3-4 year old
Goal of Lesson: Create marshmallow and spaghetti towers to introduce 3-4 year old how something as simple as making a tower out of marshmallows and spaghetti requires you to be methodological in order to make it stable against a jiggling base (Jell- o), base represents earth during earthquake. As well as how most buildings require (structural) engineers to know how to make a building sturdy in case of a natural disaster (using earthquakes as examples) and what it can cause (building damage). Explains engineering in an understandable way for 3-4 year old.
Learning Skills: Innovation of ways to make “tower” sturdy, requires creativeness, and team work.
Materials: Uncooked spaghetti, large marshmallows, small marshmallows, oven aluminum tray, Jell-O.
Preparations Beforehand *amount of group numbers may vary depending on the class size*
1. Get estimated count of expected people participate in the activity
2. Fill 1 oven aluminum tray halfway with Jell-O for every 3 people participating in the event.
3. Make sure Jell-O is not watery
4. Set up 25 sticks of spaghetti, 10 small marshmallows, and 5 big marshmallows for each group of 3
Start of Activity
1. Divide people participating in groups of 3 (may vary)
2. Explain how natural disasters can destroy a building (show examples; specifically earthquakes)
3. Lead discussion on what makes a building handle natural disasters (structure and foundation)
4. Tell them to make a tower as tall as they can using only 25 sticks of spaghetti, 10 small marshmallows, and 5 big marshmallows. Make sure to mention that these towers will then be moved and placed on the jelly base to see if they would withstand a “earthquake”
5. Set a time limit to make their towers
6. Move each tower on the Jell-O base and shake the oven aluminum tray to show how earthquakes would test building stability.
7. Show students how the good example had a strong foundation and structure so it was able to withstand “earthquake”
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse