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Marshmallow Challenge

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Sticks of spaghetti poked into a marshmallow, as seen in team-building initiative Marshmallow Challenge game

Marshmallow Challenge

Classic problem-solving exercise for small teams.

  • Playful & fun
  • Simple props
  • Promotes creativity
  • Builds problem-solving skills
  • Many metaphors

Step-by-Step Instructions

The Marshmallow Challenge is a team-building activity that promotes collaboration, creativity, and strategic thinking as groups build the tallest free-standing structure using limited resources. Participants learn to communicate effectively and leverage each other’s strengths by focusing on problem-solving and resource management. The challenge of balancing the marshmallow at the top encourages innovative thinking and teamwork, reinforcing the importance of planning and execution. This engaging activity not only fosters connections among team members but also enhances trust and collaboration in a fun, competitive setting.

  1.  In advance, prepare one kit containing the following items for each small group:
    – 20 sticks of spaghetti
    – 1 metre (3′) of string
    – 1 metre (3′) of masking tape
    – 1 x marshmallow
  2. Gather your group and divide them into small teams of approx 4 to 8 people.
  3. Distribute one kit to each small group.
  4. Instruct the groups to use (only) the contents of the kits to build the tallest free-standing structure, and to place the marshmallow on top (highest peak of structure.)
  5. Explain that every group has exactly 20 minutes to complete the task.
  6. Groups are permitted to use as little or all of their resources and break the spaghetti, string and tape as they choose.
  7. The team with the tallest (free-standing) structure supporting the highest marshmallow at the end of the time, wins.

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Contributor

Add your Comments...

Have you played this activity? What worked, what didn't work? What type of group? Do you have useful advice for other users? Do you know a fun variation?

Comments (3)

  1. Brad Lundell

    I gave my teams unlimited supplies. It was interesting to see just about everyone over-engineer their tower and use too much material and their towers would just fall over and fail. It took the teams quite a while to figure out that less is more in this activity.

    Reply
    • Mark Collard

      Brad, I have seen the same outcome from teams who are given too much stuff. It always seems like a good idea at the time… 🙂

  2. Katie Inouye

    I used this activity with a group of middle school students and it worked great! The students loved the challenge and we had a good discussion afterwards about teamwork and creative problem-solving.

    Reply

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