STEM Activity Spaghetti Tower Challenge

Rated 4.85 out of 5, based on 500 reviews
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Teachers Are Terrific
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Grade Levels
3rd - 5th
Standards
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Pages
39 + editable
$3.50
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What educators are saying

I used this activity as a challenge in my STEAM class for 5th graders. It was great for problem solving and critical thinking.
Students LOVED this activity! They were very engaged and are looking forward to a "redo" to apply what they learned!
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Description

Who knew a project using spaghetti could be so engaging and have easy prep for you? Students love this tower-building event with the unlikeliest of materials- spaghetti and one marshmallow. You will enjoy the ready-made lab sheets and the 4 different versions of this resource.

Please note: This challenge is available as part of several money-saving bundles!

What is the challenge?

Students will use raw spaghetti strands to build a structure that will hold weight at the top. There are 4 variations of this project included in the resource.

What is your prep?

You will need supplies in addition to this package. This includes spaghetti, marshmallows, tape, and string. Students also need scissors. You will prepare bins with the materials and copy the student lab sheets.

What is included:

  • This package is jam-packed with teacher directions, lab sheets, hints, and photos. The original challenge includes two versions of lab sheets.
  • This challenge pack now contains 3 bonus lessons! Check the preview to see the Bell Tower Challenge. It is very similar to the Spaghetti Challenge but is a challenge you can use especially at Christmas time. Directions, helpful hints, constraints, lab sheets, and photos of the Bell Tower are all now included.
  • There is also a Blueprint Version of the challenge. It includes special directions, hints, photos, constraints, and lab sheets.
  • And, what if you are like me and forget to buy the marshmallows? I added a 4th version with a 1-page guide with photos and tips for using an alternative to the marshmallow that was really challenging and added a new problem to solve!
  • But, there is even more! Another file contains editable pages for the forms- which include the constraints and lab sheets.

This a fun design challenge and is, by far, the activity my lab students most request to do again!

Be sure to check the PREVIEW and see all the items included in this amazing challenge!

Specifically included:

  • Teacher Background
  • Materials and Prep page
  • Version 1 - 5-page teacher's guide
  • Version 1 - Constraints page, 2 sets of student lab sheets
  • Version 1 - photos
  • Tower Information page
  • Extensions page
  • Version 2- Bell Tower- 2-page teacher's guide
  • Version 2 - Constraints page, lab sheet
  • Version 2 - photos
  • Version 3- Pom-pom version - 1-page guide
  • Version 4- Blueprint version- 4-page teacher's guide
  • Version 4- Constraints page, lab page
  • Version 4 -photos
  • Rubrics in 3 versions

What are teachers saying?

  • "I am so glad that I purchased this stem challenge! My students LOVED it! The first time they did the challenge, it really tested them...they were really excited about building until they found out what the materials were! I noted so many things about teamwork, revisions that they made, and also how failure impacted them in different ways. That night, they each had to go home and write down ideas about how they would improve their design. The next day: WOW! They were revived and confident about building again, given the previous day's experience! Every group experienced more success than the day before and they worked so much better as a team. I'm really excited about the next challenge that we'll be doing this week!"

This challenge is a perfect companion to these:

All THREE Tower Challenges can be purchased in money-saving bundles:

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You might also enjoy these STEM Products:

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Total Pages
39 + editable
Answer Key
N/A
Teaching Duration
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Standards

to see state-specific standards (only available in the US).
NGSS3-5-ETS1-3
Plan and carry out fair tests in which variables are controlled and failure points are considered to identify aspects of a model or prototype that can be improved.
NGSS3-5-ETS1-1
Define a simple design problem reflecting a need or a want that includes specified criteria for success and constraints on materials, time, or cost.
NGSS3-5-ETS1-2
Generate and compare multiple possible solutions to a problem based on how well each is likely to meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.

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