DIY: Spaghetti Tower | Tinkerer Box Blog

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Spaghetti Tower

Stem Activities

Ages: 6-8

Less than 30 minutes

Grownup needed

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Skyscrapers can be seen throughout cities - do you know the secret to their stability? In this activity, we'll use spaghetti and marshmallows to model tower construction and explore the key factors affecting tower stability.

Materials Needed

Marshmallows
Spaghetti
Ruler

A small, light-yellow bowl filled with white marshmallows, a bundle of uncooked spaghetti, and a clear plastic ruler are arranged on a light wood-grain table. The items appear to be set up for a learning activity or a demonstration, possibly involving measurement or construction.

Step-by-step tutorial

Step 1

Use 9 equal-length spaghetti strands and marshmallows to create 3 identical triangles. Gently push the edges to feel how stable triangles are.

Two hands are constructing a geometric shape on a light wood-grain surface using large white marshmallows and thin, light-yellow rubber bands. The marshmallows serve as nodes, and the rubber bands connect them, forming the sides of what appears to be a series of connected triangles. The hands are in the process of adding another rubber band, suggesting the structure is still being built. This image likely depicts a STEM activity or a learning exercise.

Step 2

Connect the triangles using pairs of spaghetti strands to create a triangular prism. Try to use equal-length pieces (measure with your ruler).

A three-dimensional structure made of large white marshmallows and uncooked spaghetti stands on a light wood-grain table against a plain off-white background. The base is a triangle formed by marshmallows connected with spaghetti. Vertical spaghetti pieces rise from these base marshmallows to connect with another set of marshmallows, creating a square or rectangular prism shape. This image likely depicts a STEM activity or educational project demonstrating structural principles.

Step 3

At this point, the rectangular sides are unstable. To strengthen the tower, push the spaghetti further through the marshmallows to reduce the prism's volume, making it more stable.

Two hands are in the process of building a structure with large white marshmallows and sticks of uncooked spaghetti on a light wood-grain table. The marshmallows act as connectors, and the spaghetti pieces form the struts of a partially completed geometric form. The hands are inserting a piece of spaghetti into a marshmallow, indicating the construction is in progress. This scene likely represents a STEM building activity or a learning game.

Step 4

To reinforce the triangular prism, add diagonal spaghetti strands across each rectangle. Creating triangles makes the rectangular sides more stable.

Two hands hold a three-dimensional structure constructed from large white marshmallows and strands of uncooked spaghetti against a light wood-grain background. The marshmallows serve as joints, connecting the spaghetti strands to form a complex geometric shape resembling a prism or a cage. The hands are manipulating the structure, suggesting it is either being built or tested for stability. This image likely depicts a STEM activity or a learning exercise.

Step 5

Take another triangle from step 1, push the spaghetti through the marshmallows to reduce its area for better stability. Connect it to the top of your prism using pairs of spaghetti strands as in step 3.

Two hands are building a structure with large white marshmallows and sticks of dry spaghetti on a light-colored wooden surface. The marshmallows are used as connectors, with spaghetti pieces inserted into them to create a framework. The structure appears to be a geometric shape, possibly a cube or prism, and is in the process of being assembled. The hands are actively adding more spaghetti pieces to the marshmallows, indicating ongoing construction. The image likely depicts an educational activity or a STEM project.

Step 6

Add diagonal supports to the second layer following step 4's method to make your tower even more stable!

A freestanding structure made of large white marshmallows and uncooked spaghetti sits on a light wood-grain table against a plain off-white background. The marshmallows serve as connectors, with multiple spaghetti strands inserted into them, forming a tall, somewhat leaning tower or prism-like shape. The numerous spaghetti pieces create a complex lattice structure. This image likely represents a completed STEM building project or educational model.

Step 7

For the tower top, create a triangle the same size as the second layer using three spaghetti strands and three marshmallows.

A simple triangular structure made of large white marshmallows and uncooked spaghetti lies flat on a light wood-grain table. Three marshmallows form the corners of the triangle, connected by pieces of spaghetti. Short, broken pieces of spaghetti protrude from the marshmallows, suggesting previous construction or attempts to connect more pieces. The image likely represents the base or a component of a larger STEM building activity.

Step 8

Take three more spaghetti strands and one marshmallow. Insert the strands vertically into the triangle's marshmallows, then bring their other ends together into the remaining marshmallow to form the peak.

A tetrahedron-shaped structure constructed from large white marshmallows and uncooked spaghetti stands on a light wood-grain table against a plain, light-colored background. Three marshmallows form the base, connected by spaghetti pieces, and a fourth marshmallow sits atop the structure, also connected with spaghetti struts. Small, broken pieces of spaghetti stick out from the marshmallows. This image likely represents a completed STEM engineering or building challenge.

Step 9

Carefully place your tower top onto the triangular prism and connect the protruding spaghetti to the marshmallows.

Two hands are in the process of building a tower-like structure with large white marshmallows and strands of uncooked spaghetti against a light-colored background. The marshmallows act as connectors, and the spaghetti pieces are inserted into them to create the framework. The structure appears to be a complex geometric design, and the hands are actively working to add more marshmallows and spaghetti, indicating ongoing construction. This image likely depicts a STEM activity, engineering project, or learning exercise.

Step 10

Your spaghetti tower is complete! What other tower designs can you create? Can you add more layers? Use your imagination and building skills to create your unique tower!

A tall, freestanding structure built from large white marshmallows and uncooked spaghetti stands on a light wood-grain table against a plain off-white background. The marshmallows serve as connectors, with spaghetti strands inserted into them, forming a tower or prism-like shape. The spaghetti pieces create a complex, interconnected framework. A single marshmallow perched at the very top appears slightly offset, suggesting a recent addition or a point of instability. This image likely depicts a finished STEM project or a model built as part of a learning activity.

The Science Behind It:

Triangles are key to tower stability. They maintain their shape, providing excellent structural integrity. The tower's base must also be wide enough because all objects have a "centre of gravity". For stability, this point must remain within the base. If an object tilts too much and its centre of gravity moves outside the base area, it will collapse.

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