Ask Ollie
Marshmallow Igloo Building Challenge
Here's one to try together!
Squish, poke and stack your way to a cozy igloo dome that is strong enough to shelter a tiny toy guest!
Reviewed by our team.
Safety first
- Toothpicks are sharp: point them away from faces
- Toothpicks and marshmallows are a choking size for under 3s: keep them out of reach
What you need
- Mini marshmallows, about 2 cups
- Toothpicks, about 60
- Plate or tray, 1 paper plate
- Ruler, 1
- Small toy, 1
How to do it
Grown-up prep: Set out mini marshmallows, toothpicks, a paper plate, a ruler and a small toy for each builder. Remind everyone to point toothpick tips away from faces.
- Build a ring of marshmallows joined by toothpicks on your plate.
- Add the next row, tilting each toothpick a little toward the middle.
- Add slanted toothpicks between rows to make triangles that brace the walls. Ask: Press a square and then a triangle. Which one wobbles more?
- Leave a gap in one wall for your igloo door.
- Keep adding leaning rows until the top closes into a dome.
- Slide your small toy through the door and set it inside. Ask: Do you think your igloo will stay standing with a guest inside?
- Measure your igloo from the plate to the top with a ruler.
- Build a second igloo using only squares, then test it the same way.
- Which igloo won? Challenge someone to build a taller, stronger one! Ask: What would you change to make your next igloo even stronger?
Play it again
- Toothpick budget: everyone gets the same number of toothpicks, and the tallest standing igloo wins.
- Earthquake test: gently wiggle the plate for five seconds and see whose igloo survives.
- Igloo village: team up to build several igloos connected by marshmallow bridges.
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