Marshmallow Challenge

Goal

To encourage students to work together to practice several design thinking mindsets: Radical Collaboration, Bias to Action, Build to Think, Failing Fast, Test and Iterate. 

Design Thinking Modes: Prototype and Test

Difficulty: Beginner

Duration: 45 minutes

Group Size: Groups of 3-4, if possible

To encourage students to work together to practice several design thinking mindsets: Radical Collaboration, Bias to Action, Build to Think, Failing Fast, Test and Iterate. The Marshmallow Challenge activity is designed to get students working together to build and test their designs with an emphasis on radical collaboration and bias to action.

• 20 pieces of spaghetti
• 1 marshmallow
• 1 yard of string
• 1 yard of tape

• Each group builds a structure using the provided materials
• The structure must support the marshmallow at the top of the structure
• Groups get 10 minutes to complete their structure
• Focus on ideation, brainstorming, and collaboration
• The Goal is to have the tallest structure that supports the marshmallow

• What was the hardest part of the challenge? Easiest? What have you learned?
• Why is testing so important? What would you do differently if you had the chance?
• Discussion iteration and how it could help with this activity.