Empowerment Activity – Marshmallow Structures

Topic/Theme: Architecture and Construction Careers

Video: 60 Seconds With Architect June Grant

Supplies:

  • Toothpicks
  • Small marshmallows
  • Wax paper
  • Paper or plastic cups to divide the marshmallows

Video Discussion:

After watching the video 60 Seconds With Architect June Grant, ask your students to think about a building or house that they’ve seen and why it’s memorable.

Activity Instructions:

In this activity, you are the client and the students are the architects. You will have them design a structure (house, mansion, office building, etc.) using only marshmallows and toothpicks.

  • June talks about designing for different clients and having to meet their needs but still being creative. In this case, I am your client and want you to build me a house out of marshmallow and toothpicks. You get to decide how it looks.
  • The great part about being an architect is being able to see your project on the street and knowing that it will be there for a long time. Think about what design you would be proud to see and what you would want to leave behind in your community.
  • June’s advice is to start playing and designing with 3-dimensional spaces, which is what we will be doing today.

Students may work individually or as a team. If working as a team you can make the activity more challenging by having them build a mansion or an office building, etc. Show the image above for inspiration.

 

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