Week 4: Marshmallow Toothpick STEM

This week the boys and I did some simple marshmallow and toothpick engineering. At first I challenged them to build an igloo, and that got their creative juices flowing, and then they moved on to making all sorts of other creations! 

I think this activity is more appropriate for the 5+ crowd because of course the toothpicks can be a hazard, but my older kids loved it! They wanted to keep it out and kept coming back to it until they had made several different creations and sampled all the marshmallows they could want. I think the open ended nature of this STEM activity really pulled them in. Gotta love a snacktivity, too!

Mess level: 2/10

Don't spill the toothpicks on the floor! Those suckers would hurt to step on, so we were very careful.  

Fun level: 8/10

My kids suggested we use pretzel sticks next time so the whole thing is edible, but I don't think those would build as well as the toothpicks. 

Time spent: Over an hour!

Such a win for such a low prep activity. They might have spent up to 2 hours on this over the course of a couple days and that's what I call an engaging activity!

Prep needed: Low

Just set the supplies out! You probably already have toothpicks in your pantry, so all you'd need to get are marshmallows!  

Hidden benefits:

• Planning and sequencing
• Persistence and emotional regulation when a design doesn't work or is harder than expected
• Healthy risk-taking with low stakes
• Fine motor and bilateral coordination benefits
• Spatial reasoning and geometry

Definitely give this one a try!

With love,

Laynah