The new year is an exciting time in the classroom! Most students are coming back from winter break, ready to see friends again and share all about their holidays. With all the excitement also comes the need to revisit classroom procedures and expectations. What better way to do this than to challenge your students to work together to complete a fun STEM activity? This simple “Build the Tallest Snowman” challenge combines creativity, problem solving, and collaboration, and is a great way to ease back into a new year.
Materials Needed:
marshmallows (regular sized, 20 to 30 per group)
toothpicks (20 to 30 per group)
rulers to measure the finished snowmen
optional: mini marshmallows for embellishments
Step 1: Set Up
First, divide students into small teams with 3 to 5 students on each team. Give each team an equal supply of marshmallows and toothpicks.
Step 2: Introduce the Activity
Next, explain the challenge to your class. Teams must work together to build the tallest free-standing snowman using only the materials given (toothpicks and marshmallows). This would also be a great time to review class expectations such as voice level, being kind to other students, and how to be a good team member.
Step 3: Get Started!
Set a time limit for the activity (about 15 to 20 minutes). Encourage teams to experiment and strategize. How will they balance the marshmallows? How can they make their snowman taller without it toppling?
Step 4: Measure
When time is up, measure each team’s snowman to determine a winner. You can also celebrate the most creative structure. Additionally, this is a great time to discuss the groups’ strategies and what worked or didn’t work.
Extensions and Variations:
Practice subtraction skills by comparing the heights of all the snowmen. Record the height for each group on the board. Then ask students to find the difference in heights of each snowman.
Have students create a bar graph to show the heights of each group’s snowman.
Invite students to name their snowman and write a short backstory.
Turn it into a friendly competition with categories such as “Tallest Snowman,” “Most Creative Snowman,” or “Most Stable Snowman.” You can even give students ballots to practice voting.
Why Teachers Love This Activity:
This hands-on project is low-prep and engaging, making it a perfect activity to welcome kids back to school after winter break. Your little learners will be completely engaged while practicing critical thinking, collaboration, and STEM skills!
