As educators we are always looking for concrete examples and active experiences to better advance understanding. Last Saturday I spent four hours with groups of 15-20 seventh graders, about an hour at a time, undertaking an activity which has (at least) two powerful take-away lessons, one of them being the critical importance of error in achieving success.
The activity is called the Marshmallow Challenge, and it is incredibly easy and amazingly powerful. It has its own website with thorough directions, including a fascinating Ted-talk by Tom Wujec who articulates astutely some of its lessons.
Here’s the gig: set up groups of almost any size, and any age, Kindergarten to Centenarian.
Give them a table top, 20 sticks of spaghetti,
a yard of string, a yard of tape, and a marshmallow.
Set a time to 18 minutes, and tell the crowd at the end of time, you will measure and (very modestly) award the team which has the marshmallow supported highest above the table– and remember, at the end of time, no hands!
That’s all. Step back, watch, and learn. Be sure to check out the pictures in the Photo gallery and then try one the next time you have a cooperative learning need or just a professional development event that is a bit boring. You and what you learn about each other maybe surprising!
-D-
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