Marshmallow City Planning

🌸 Overview

Welcome to the squishiest engineering challenge ever! In this fun, hands-on maths and design activity, your child will become a city planner, using marshmallows and toothpicks to design, balance, and build their very own skyline.

This activity sneaks in geometry, measurement, and problem-solving skills while letting imagination run wild. From towering skyscrapers to marshmallow mansions, it’s a creative challenge that encourages trial, error, and teamwork.

🌿 What You’ll Explore

• Maths: 2D and 3D shapes, symmetry, measurement, and balance.

• Engineering: Structural design and creative problem-solving.

• Literacy: Vocabulary (structure, tower, stable, balance).

• Social & Emotional: Teamwork, patience, and perseverance.

(Full learning outcomes and reporting phrases are included inside the downloadable activity pack.)

🪴 What You’ll Need

• Marshmallows (mixture of sizes works best!)

• Toothpicks or dry spaghetti

• A base surface (cardboard or tray)

• Optional: string, tape, or building “zones” marked with tape

• Ruler or measuring tape (for comparison experiments)

✨ Quick How-To

1️⃣ Start with a flat base (like cardboard).

2️⃣ Connect marshmallows and toothpicks to form triangles, squares, or cubes.

3️⃣ Experiment with shapes - which stand tall? Which collapse?

4️⃣ Build a city! Add towers, bridges, and even tiny marshmallow people.

💡 Parent Tip: Encourage your child to describe what’s happening - “What makes it strong?” “Which shape wobbles most?” Simple conversation turns play into learning.

💚 Adapt for Every Age and Ability

• Use extra large marshmallows or playdough balls for easier grip.

• Pre-cut toothpicks for fine motor support.

• Offer visual guides or photos of famous buildings for inspiration.

• Encourage repetition - rebuilding and testing improves confidence and coordination.

  
  

(More detailed SEN adaptations and printable visual supports are included inside the downloadable activity pack.)

🎨 Extension Ideas

• Shape Challenge: Build a structure using only triangles - test stability.

• Measurement Mission: Use a ruler to record height and width - who built the tallest tower?

• Earthquake Test: Gently shake the table - which buildings survive?

• Maths Upgrade: Add number cards and assign “plot values” for budgeting or building zones.

💾 Download the Full Activity Pack

Want more structured learning without the stress of planning?

The Marshmallow City Planning Printable Pack includes:

✔️ Visual setup guide and step-by-step instructions

✔️ Maths and geometry worksheets

✔️ SEN-friendly fine motor adaptations

✔️ Certificates, challenge cards, and visual building diagrams

🛒 Get the Marshmallow City Planning Pack on Etsy

(Each pack is designed to make learning hands-on, purposeful, and joyful; with everything prepped for you to simply print and play!)

🎥 See It in Action

Watch the full setup and building challenge here:

🌿 Watch Marshmallow City Planning on Instagram

🪶 Why We Love This

This activity is pure joyful chaos - sticky fingers, creative minds, and teamwork in action. It’s one of those moments where maths becomes a memory.

Thanks for joining us for today’s experiment 💚

If you give it a go, we’d love to see! Tag @CuriousPawsLearning on Instagram, YouTube, Tiktok, X, Pinterest or Facebook so we can celebrate your little scientist’s success together. 🐾