What is Spaghetti-Marshmallow Tower?
In the Spaghetti-Marshmallow Tower activity, participants are divided into teams and given a set of materials, including spaghetti noodles and marshmallows. The goal is to construct the tallest freestanding tower possible within a given time limit. The catch is that the tower must be built using only the spaghetti noodles and marshmallows, and it must be able to support the weight of a marshmallow placed on top.
Teams must work together to come up with a design, plan their construction, and collaborate on building their towers. They can experiment with different strategies and techniques to create a stable structure. The activity encourages creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork.
Materials needed for Spaghetti-Marshmallow Tower
- 10 Newspapers (Quantity depends on the number of participants)
- 1 Tape (Per team)
How to play Spaghetti-Marshmallow Tower
- Divide into Teams: Form teams of 3-4 members. Ensure each team has a designated area to build their tower.
- Provide Materials: Distribute equal amounts of spaghetti noodles and marshmallows to each team.
- Set Time Limit: Specify the time limit for building the towers. Usually, 15-30 minutes is sufficient.
- Start Tower Construction: Encourage teams to brainstorm and come up with a plan before starting the construction process. Remind them to consider stability, height, and use of materials.
- Test and Measure: Once the time is up, have each team put a marshmallow on top of their tower. Measure the height of each tower using a ruler or measuring tape.
- Declare the Winning Team: The team with the tallest freestanding tower wins the activity. Celebrate their achievement and encourage discussion about the various strategies used by teams.
Benefits of Spaghetti-Marshmallow Tower
Team building activities are far more than just fun and games. They pack a punch when it comes to the range of benefits they can deliver.
Some of the benefits of Spaghetti-Marshmallow Tower include:
- Teamwork: Collaborating in teams enhances communication, coordination, and cooperation.
- Creativity: Participants can explore unique ways to construct their towers.
- Problem Solving: Building a stable structure with limited resources challenges critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
Why we like Spaghetti-Marshmallow Tower
We love the Spaghetti-Marshmallow Tower activity because it promotes teamwork, creativity, and critical thinking. It challenges participants to think outside the box, collaborate effectively, and apply problem-solving skills to build a sturdy tower using limited resources.
Reflection questions for Spaghetti-Marshmallow Tower
Reflection questions are a great way to help your team process their experience after playing Spaghetti-Marshmallow Tower.
- What challenges did your team face during the building process? Purpose: Reflect on obstacles and brainstorm solutions.
- Which tower design worked best and why? Purpose: Analyze successful strategies and learn from them.
- How did you divide tasks and ensure everyone had a role? Purpose: Evaluate team dynamics and collaboration.
Which skills does Spaghetti-Marshmallow Tower build?
- Teamwork - Teamwork skills are crucial for icebreakers and team building because they foster effective communication, encourage collaboration, and promote a sense of unity among team members, leading to better problem-solving and increased productivity.
- Creativity - Creativity skills can greatly enhance icebreakers and team building by allowing participants to think outside the box and come up with unique solutions and ideas. This promotes collaboration, boosts morale, and fosters a positive and innovative environment within a team.
- Problem-solving - Problem-solving skills are essential for icebreakers and team building as they help break down barriers, foster creativity, and encourage collaboration, resulting in stronger relationships and more effective problem-solving within the team.
- Critical thinking - Critical thinking skills are valuable for icebreakers and team building because they enable individuals to analyze information, make reasoned judgments, and effectively solve problems, fostering open communication and collaboration in group settings. Moreover, these skills help individuals to think critically and creatively, which leads to innovative ideas, enhanced decision-making, and ultimately, the overall success of team activities.
Jon Zajac
