Spaghetti Tower

Teacher Directions
READ THE SCENARIO TO STUDENTS! MATERIELS
Mr. Rolly is a meatball who wants to set the -20 Spaghetti per group
record for the highest meatball on top of a -One bag mini
freestanding tower! Your job is to design a marshmallows (one per
freestanding tower with just spaghetti and group)
masking tape. The tower must support one -Masking tape (one foot
marshmallow, to represent Mr. Rolly. per group)

RULES
1. Students may not use anything other than
the provided materials.
2. They may tape the spaghetti to desks/the
floor, etc.
3. They may break the spaghetti and tear the
masking tape.
4. They have 5 minutes to sketch their design,
and 20 minutes to build their tower.
5. Each tower should hold a marshmallow,
free stand.
6. Measure to the tallest point of the tower
with a yardstick.
 Spaghetti Towers!
Mr. Rolly is a meatball who wants to
set the record for the highest
meatball on top of a freestanding
tower! Your job is to design the tallest
freestanding tower possible, with just
spaghetti and masking tape. The
tower must support one
marshmallow, to represent Mr. Rolly.

Directions!
Directions:
1. Get into groups of 2-3
2. You need 20 spaghetti, one marshmallow,

and one foot of masking tape.

3. Talk with your group and sketch a design
to make the tallest tower possible.
4. You will have 18 minutes to build your
tower, then test it with your marshmallow!
5. Have someone measure towers and
compare.
6. Finish the worksheet!
 SPAGHETTI TOWERS
NAME: DATE:

DRAW YOUR SPAGHETTI DRAW YOUR COMPLETE

TOWER DESIGN: TOWER:

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

1. Did your design work out? Why or why

not?

2. What would you do differently next

time? What modifications would you make?

3. What went well? What would you do the

same next time?

4. What other materials would make this

activity better?
 HELPFUL TIPS!
GIVE BASE IDEAS!

Make a triangle with your spaghetti on your desk

Make a rectangle with your spaghetti on your desk
Build something to connect your tower to, to help stabilize it!

REVIEW HOW TO BUILD A TOWER!

Remind students that they will need to stabilize their
tower.
Brainstorm qualities of a good structure.
Provide a sample!
MODIFY AS NEEDED!
This activity can easily be modified for students at different
levels, and can even be done as a whole class activity.

HOW TO SUPPORT A MARSHMALLOW

Decide with students the requirements for holding the
marshmallow.
They can balance it on top of the tower, poke the spaghetti
through it, etc.

EXTRA CHALLENGE:
Have students design a basket, seat, etc. for their
marshmallow that must be attached and suspended from the
tower!