Spaghetti-Marshmallow Tower
Objective:
Construct a tower as high as possible using spaghetti (members) and
marshmallows (joints). Pieces of spaghetti (members) may be broken into
desired lengths.
Standard Statement:
Recognize and use the creative problem solving steps to solve problems.
1. Mess Finding
2. Fact Finding
3. Problem Finding
4. Idea Finding
5. Solution Finding
6. Acceptance Finding
SHOW YOUR WORK on this paper.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Define the problem. {What is the problem?}
Develop alternate solutions. {Sketch or list possible solutions.}
Select a solution. {Pick an idea your group agrees upon.}
Implement and evaluate the solution. {Build your spaghetti stick tower.}
Redesign the solution. {Modify your tower if needed.}
Interpret the solution. {Analyze all the towers in your class.}
Modified by: Rochelle Doty, Gifted Resource Teacher, District #54, August. 2010.
Original from:
http://www.bucciteacher.com/modeling/SpaghettiTower/spaghettitower.htm
Materials Needed
Spaghetti
mini-marshmallows
fake money in 5's, 10's, & 20’s
Instructions
1. Build the tallest tower you can out of marshmallows (joints) and
spaghetti (members).
2. The catch? You've got a budget of only 400 dollars. One piece of
spaghetti (member) costs ten dollars and each marshmallow (joint)
costs five dollars.
3. Form teams of 2-3 and compare your designs and buildings.
4. Have a member from your group be the banker. They will keep track
of how much your team spends. Each time you need materials, go to
the banker. If you buy materials you decide not to use, you may return
them to the banker for money.
5. Before you begin building or buying your materials, draw your design.
Figure out ways to make the tower taller and sturdier.
6. Now test your designs by building your towers.
7. How will you make your tower both tall AND sturdy? Are there
adjustments to the design that you need to make?
Time restraints:
12 minutes to plan
8 minutes to construct
10 minutest to debrief
Spaghetti: $10.00
Marshmallow: $5.00
Total budget: $400.00
Modified by: Rochelle Doty, Gifted Resource Teacher, District #54, August. 2010.
Original from:
http://www.bucciteacher.com/modeling/SpaghettiTower/spaghettitower.htm
HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES
Modified by: Rochelle Doty, Gifted Resource Teacher, District #54, August. 2010.
Original from:
http://www.bucciteacher.com/modeling/SpaghettiTower/spaghettitower.htm
Modified by: Rochelle Doty, Gifted Resource Teacher, District #54, August. 2010.
Original from:
http://www.bucciteacher.com/modeling/SpaghettiTower/spaghettitower.htm
Group Evaluation Worksheet
Analysis
1. Draw a large diagram of your Spaghetti Tower in the space below.
2.
What do you like and dislike about your current design?
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
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3.
What was the biggest challenge you faced? How did you overcome
it?
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
4.
If you had an opportunity to redesign your tower, what would you
change?
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
Modified by: Rochelle Doty, Gifted Resource Teacher, District #54, August. 2010.
Original from:
http://www.bucciteacher.com/modeling/SpaghettiTower/spaghettitower.htm
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
5.
How much money was left over as a group? ___________________
Self Evaluation Worksheet
1.
How did you personally feel while doing this activity? Did you ever
want to give up?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
2. How similar is your design to others in the room?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
3. If you could add another material to the mix, what would it be and why?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
4. What was your contribution to the group?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
Modified by: Rochelle Doty, Gifted Resource Teacher, District #54, August. 2010.
Original from:
http://www.bucciteacher.com/modeling/SpaghettiTower/spaghettitower.htm