Marshmallow Challenge for Teams (With Instructions)

Do you want to conduct the Marshmallow Challenge with your teams?

The marshmallow tower activity is more than just a fun game. It is a powerful exercise rooted in design thinking and agile methodology. The activity reveals deep insights into team dynamics, problem-solving, and innovation under pressure. It forces participants to collaborate, test ideas quickly, and adapt to unforeseen challenges.

In this article, let’s see how to run this activity effectively, explore its variations, and understand the lessons it teaches.

Here is an overview of the sections in this article:

• Objective of the Marshmallow Tower Challenge

• 5 Variations of the Exercise, Including the Classic Version

• Tips for Successful Facilitation

• FAQ about the Exercise

Objective of the Activity

The marshmallow tower activity is a popular choice for fostering teamwork and innovation. It provides a simple yet effective framework for observing team dynamics in action. By giving teams limited resources and a tight deadline, the exercise highlights natural leadership styles, communication patterns, and problem-solving approaches.

Here are the key objectives you can achieve with this activity.

Fostering Collaboration

The challenge is intentionally designed to be difficult for one person to complete alone. Team members must work together, share ideas, and combine their skills. This process encourages active listening plus mutual respect, which are essential components of a collaborative environment.

Encouraging Innovation

With only a few simple materials, teams are pushed to think creatively. There is no single “right” way to build the tower. This open-ended nature sparks innovation as groups experiment with different structural designs and engineering principles to support the marshmallow.

Highlighting Problem-Solving Skills

Teams will inevitably face setbacks. Their initial designs might fail, or the structure could be unstable. The activity tests their ability to diagnose problems, brainstorm solutions, and implement changes under pressure, reflecting real-world project challenges.

Improving Communication

Clear communication is vital for success. Teams need to articulate their ideas, provide constructive feedback, and coordinate their actions effectively. The exercise quickly reveals the importance of a shared vocabulary plus a clear plan to avoid confusion and wasted effort.

Demonstrating Agile Principles

The activity serves as a micro-lesson in agile development. Successful teams often build prototypes, test them, and iterate on their designs. This iterative process of rapid experimentation and adaptation is a core tenet of agile methodologies, teaching the value of failing fast to learn faster.

5 Variations of the Marshmallow Challenge

Here are 5 variations of the marshmallow challenge that you can use to energize your teams.

#1. The Classic Challenge

This is the original and most well-known version of the activity. It establishes a baseline for performance while introducing the core concepts of collaboration and rapid prototyping.

Time: 10-20 minutes
Materials: 20 sticks of uncooked spaghetti, 1 yard of masking tape, 1 yard of string, and1 standard marshmallow
Participants: 3-8 people per group

Instructions

• Divide participants into small teams. Give each group the specified materials.

• Explain that the goal is to build the tallest freestanding structure with the marshmallow on top. The entire marshmallow must be above the rest of the structure.

• Set a timer for 10-15 minutes. For instance, you can project the countdown on a screen for all teams to see.

• Once the time is up, ask all teams to step away from their towers. Measure each structure that is still standing to determine the winner.

Debrief

• What was the biggest challenge your team faced during the activity?

• How did your team’s initial plan change as you started building?

• If you could do this again, what would you do differently?

#2. The No-Tape Challenge

This variation increases the difficulty by removing a key stabilizing material. Teams must rely more on structural integrity and balance to succeed.

Time: 10-20 minutes
Materials: 20 sticks of uncooked spaghetti, 1 yard of string, and 1 standard marshmallow
Participants: 3-8 people per group

Instructions

• Organize everyone into small teams. Distribute the spaghetti, string, and marshmallow to each.

• Inform the teams that they must build the tallest freestanding tower. They cannot use any tape.

• Start a 10-15-minute timer. Announce time checks periodically to keep teams aware of the deadline.

• After the set time, measure the height of all towers that remain standing on their own. The tallest one wins.

Debrief

• How did the absence of tape change your team’s strategy?

• What alternative methods did you discover for creating stable joints?

• Which role did each person play in overcoming this new constraint?

#3. The Silent Challenge

This version focuses entirely on non-verbal communication. It forces team members to find creative ways to share ideas and coordinate their actions without speaking.

Time: 10-20 minutes
Materials: 20 sticks of uncooked spaghetti, 1 yard of masking tape, 1 yard of string, and 1 standard marshmallow
Participants: 3-8 people per group

Instructions

• Ask participants to form groups. Provide each group with the standard set of materials.

• Explain the rules of the classic challenge. Add the critical constraint that no verbal communication is allowed.

• Begin the 10-15-minute countdown. For instance, use hand signals to give time warnings at the 5-minute and 1-minute marks.

• When time expires, identify the tallest freestanding structure with a marshmallow on top.

Debrief

• What methods did you use to communicate plans without talking?

• How did the inability to speak affect your team’s efficiency?

• What did this exercise teach you about the importance of non-verbal cues?

#4. The Leadership Swap Challenge

This variation introduces a planned disruption to team dynamics. It highlights how teams adapt to changes in leadership and direction mid-project.

Time: 10-20 minutes
Materials: 20 sticks of uncooked spaghetti, 1 yard of masking tape, 1 yard of string, and 1 standard marshmallow
Participants: 4-8 people per group

Instructions

• Divide participants into groups and distribute the materials. Ask each group to designate one leader.

• Instruct the groups on the main objective of building the tallest tower. Set the timer for 10 minutes.

• At the halfway point (5 minutes), announce a leadership swap. For example, ask the designated leader from each group to move to the group on their right.

• Once time is up, measure the standing towers to find the winning group.

Debrief

• How did the change in leadership impact your team’s momentum?

• What challenges did the new leader face when joining a project already in progress?

• How did the original team members help the new leader get up to speed?

#5. The Resource Auction Challenge

This version adds a layer of strategic resource management. Teams must decide how to allocate a budget to acquire the materials they believe are most important.

Time: You decide
Materials: Various quantities of spaghetti, tape, string, marshmallows, and play money
Participants: 3-8 people per group

Instructions

• Form teams and give each team an equal amount of play money. For instance, provide each group with $100.

• Display the available materials and facilitate an auction where teams bid on them. Some items can be sold in bundles.

• Once the auction is complete, instruct teams to build the tallest freestanding tower with the materials they purchased. Set the timer for 10 minutes.

• After the time is up, determine the winner by measuring the height of the successful structures.

Debrief

• How did your team decide which materials to prioritize during the auction?

• Did your initial budget strategy pay off in the building phase? If so, why?

• What would you have purchased differently knowing what you know now?

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Tips for Successful Facilitation

A well-facilitated marshmallow tower activity can transform a simple game into a profound learning experience. Your role as the facilitator is to create an environment where teams can thrive and learn. Careful preparation plus thoughtful guidance are crucial for success.

Here are some tips to help you facilitate the activity effectively.

Set a Clear and Engaging Tone

Your energy will set the stage for the entire event. Start with a brief, engaging introduction that explains the purpose of the activity without giving away its secrets. Frame it as a fun challenge, not a test. This approach helps lower anxiety and encourages participants to engage freely.

Manage Time and Space Effectively

Ensure you have enough space for each team to work without interfering with others. A large room with separate tables is ideal. Keep a close eye on the clock and provide clear time warnings, such as at the halfway point and with one minute remaining. This creates a sense of urgency and helps teams manage their progress.

Observe Without Intervening

Your primary role during the activity is to be an observer. Walk around the room and take notes on team dynamics, communication styles, and problem-solving strategies. Resist the urge to offer help or suggestions, as the learning process often comes from overcoming the struggle independently.

Lead a Powerful Debrief Session

The debrief is the most important part of the activity. This is where the real learning happens. Use open-ended questions to guide a discussion about the experience. Ask teams to reflect on what worked, what didn’t, and why. Connect their experiences in the challenge to real-world work scenarios.

Emphasize the Process, Not Just the Outcome

While building the tallest tower is the goal, it is important to emphasize the lessons learned along the way. Celebrate the innovative failures as much as the successful towers. Highlight how teams collaborated, communicated, and adapted. This focus reinforces that the true value lies in the shared experience plus the insights gained.

Final Words

The marshmallow challenge is a brilliant tool for any leader looking to improve team dynamics. It is a low-cost, high-impact exercise that reveals how teams collaborate under pressure. The insights gained from this simple challenge can spark meaningful conversations about innovation. By applying these lessons, your team can build more than just a spaghetti tower. They can build a stronger foundation for future success.

FAQ: Marshmallow Challenge

You might have these questions in mind.

What is the main lesson of the marshmallow challenge?

The main lesson is that success in complex projects relies on rapid prototyping and iterative design. Teams that spend time testing small ideas and adapting their plans often outperform those who spend all their time creating a single, perfect plan. It also highlights the importance of collaborative problem-solving.

Why is the marshmallow placed on top?

Placing the marshmallow on top introduces a significant engineering challenge. The marshmallow is light, but it is heavy enough to topple a poorly designed structure. This constraint forces teams to think critically about weight distribution, balance, and structural integrity from the very beginning.

How do you win the marshmallow game?

Winning involves building the tallest freestanding structure that supports the marshmallow on top within the time limit. Success usually comes from teams that start building and testing prototypes early. They learn from failures quickly and adjust their design, rather than waiting until the end to place the marshmallow.

Are there any common mistakes teams make?

A common mistake is spending too much time planning and not enough time building. Another frequent error is underestimating the weight of the marshmallow, leading to last-minute collapses. Teams also often fail to secure a stable base, which compromises the entire structure.

Can this activity be done virtually?

Yes, the activity can be adapted for virtual teams. You can send material kits to participants ahead of time or provide a list of common household items to use. Each person can work on their own tower while on a video call, or small breakout groups can collaborate on a single design by directing one person who has the materials.

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