Marshmallow Spaghetti Challenge Step-by-Step Instructions
This is Marshmallow Spaghetti Challenge Instructions:
An Agile approach of starting with the marshmallow and making it central to every design and prototype gave teams instant feedback on what did and didn’t work.
Involving the marshmallow from the off, rather than using it at the end, gave Agile teams the advantage. This iterative process will always trump the ‘build it and hope’ method a few teams attempted.
Are you ready?
Build the tallest free-standing structure in just 18 minutes using no more than 20 sticks of spaghetti, one yard of tape, one yard of string, and one marshmallow. The marshmallow must be on top and cannot be deformed to hold it in place.
► Number of Players: There is no limit to the number of teams; ideally each team should have no more than 5 to 7 people.
► Prerequisites: The facilitator will need to be sure to have the following materials on hand before the game is to begin:
► One marshmallow challenge kit for each team, where each kit consists of 20 sticks of spaghetti, 1 yard of masking tape, 1 yard of string, and 1 marshmallow.
► Additional guidelines: Use uncooked spaghetti, The string should either be easily broken by hand or if not, add scissors to each kit, Brand name marshmallows of “standard” size tend to work best, where “standard” means about 1.5 inches in diameter. Avoid mini or jumbo marshmallows, Use standard masking tape, and consider taping one end of the tape to the side of the work area or the back of a chair for each team, rather than including it in the bag.
► How to Play: Set aside 45 to 60 minutes for the entire challenge, where the time includes explaining the instructions, running the challenge itself, and then talking about the experience with the teams at the end.
► Instructions: Build the tallest free-standing structure: The winning team is the one that has the tallest structure measured from the tabletop surface to the top of the marshmallow. That means the structure cannot be suspended from a higher structure, like a chair, ceiling, or chandelier.
- The entire marshmallow must be on top: The entire marshmallow needs to be on the top of the structure. Cutting or eating part of the marshmallow disqualifies the team.
Use as much or as little of the kit as you need to: The team can use as many or as few of the 20 spaghetti sticks, and as much or as little of the string or tape. The team cannot use the paper bag as part of their structure.
Break up the spaghetti, string, or tape: Teams are free to break the spaghetti, cut the tape, and cut the string.
► TIMEBOX: 18 minutes, teams cannot hold on to the structure when the time runs out. Those touching or supporting the structure at the end of the exercise will be disqualified.
► Ensure Everyone Understands the Rules: Repeat them at least three times. Ask if anyone has any questions before starting.
► Suggestions Related to Wrapping Up/Lessons Learned: When time expires, measure the structures. From the shortest standing structure to the tallest, measure and call out the heights. If you’re documenting the challenge, have someone record the heights.
Identify the winning team. Ensure they get a standing ovation and a prize (if you’ve offered one).
► Lessons of the Marshmallow Challenge (based on many observations with other teams):
- Kids often do better than adults. On virtually every measure of innovation, kindergarteners often create taller and more interesting structures.
- Prototyping matters: One reason that kids often do better than adults is that kids spend more time playing and prototyping. They naturally start with the marshmallow and stick in the sticks. Adults often spend a vast amount of time planning, then executing the plan, with almost no time to fix the design once they put the marshmallow on top.
- The Marshmallow is a metaphor for the hidden assumptions of a project. The assumption in the Marshmallow Challenge is that marshmallows are light and fluffy and easily supported by spaghetti sticks. When you actually try to build the structure, the marshmallows don’t seem so light. The lesson in the marshmallow challenge is that we need to identify the assumptions in our project — the real customer needs, the cost of the product, and the duration of the service — and test them early and often. That’s the mechanism that leads to effective innovation.
► Facilitator Tips: Walk around and observe as the teams work. It’s fascinating to see the development of the structures as well as notice the patterns of innovation most teams follow.
Remind the teams of the time frequently. Good intervals to call out for an 18-minute game are 12 minutes, 9 minutes, 7 minutes, 5 minutes, 3 minutes, 2 minutes, 1 minute, 30 seconds, and a ten-second countdown.
Call out how the teams are doing. Let the entire group know how teams are progressing. Call out each time a team builds a standing structure. Build a friendly rivalry. Encourage people to look around.
► Remind the teams that holders will be disqualified. Team members often find it hard to resist the temptation to hold on to their structure at the end, usually because the marshmallow, which they just placed onto their structure moments before, caused the structure to buckle. The winning structure has to be stable.
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