Activities for Students
Creative and Problem Solving Problem
Marshmallow Buildings and Bridges
This lesson dveleoped by Reach Out!
Recommended Ages: All Ages, So Ask a Parent!
  
What You Need
1. Toothpicks
2. Miniature marshmallows
3. Large marshmallows
4. Book
5. 2 chairs
What You Do
1. Think about the different structures that are around you everyday. How do you think they were designed? What kinds of shapes do you find in these objects and structures?
2. Pick something that you want to try to build out of toothpicks and marshmallows!
3. Go ahead and build away. Toothpicks are like the beams of buildings. Try different strategies to see what will make your structure the strongest and most stable.
4. Take 15 marshmallows and 20 toothpicks and try to make a structure that will be strong enough to hold a book. Test your structures. Do you need to think about surface area? Do you need to think about using more triangles in the sturcture? Why or why not?
5. See if you can make a bridge out of toothpicks and marshmallows between two chairs. Then see how strong and stable your bridge is by putting a glass or small book on it.
What Is Happening
You are learnig about the designing and building of structures. If you want to, try using glue to hold toothpick structures together instead of the marshmallows. Ask your helper what he/she thinks would make a better structure. Talk to an engineer or builder to learn more about designing and building things.
OTHER ACTIVITIES TO RESEARCH ARE: 
CYBERINFRASTRUCTURE: Budding computer scientists might want to visit a Natonal Science Foundation website that examines the convergence of three realities -- the spread of the Internet, the shrinkage of computers, and the accumulations of databases -- that has led researchers to envision a planet-wide grid of computing, information networking, and sensor resources. Find out how this futuristic idea is becoming a reality. Visit http://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/cyber ; for more information. The classroom resources link has a listing of additional Internet resources, including links to sites focusing on girls interested in information technology, fractals, and other sites from the National Science Digital Library.
HEADS-UP: For those who are fascinated by how the human brain and nervous systems work, visit http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/introb.html ; to learn about brain development, brain lobes, the cerebral cortex, and other fascinating aspects of the three-pound marvel - the human brain. The "Neuroscience for Kids" site includes information about the autonomic nervous system, sensory systems, the spinal cord, laughter and the brain, the musical brain, face recognition, drug effects, humorous topics, such as chocolate and the brain and how much sleep animals need, and more!
EXPLORING THE ENVIRONMENT: NASA has a new Internet site that features 25 online modules that put students in problem-based learning scenarios. The modules vary in level of difficulty; the projects range from coral reefs, to climate change, to Mars, to earth on fire, the impact of increased carbon dioxide on the wheat yield in Kansas. The site includes links to additional, related websites as well, as teacher pages to recommend to your child's teacher. Visit http://www.cotf.edu/ete/main.html ; to get started!
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