The Design Challenge

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Topic: Students will apply design and engineering principles in the Marshmallow Challenge, learn about human-centered design principles, and apply STEM²D disciplines to complete a design challenge around oral hygiene.

Time: 4 hours and 30 minutes; implemented in one session

Materials:

  • Computer with projector, speakers, and Internet access

  • PowerPoint: The Design Challenge

  • Activity Leader Checklist

  • Tell My Story Form

  • Student Handouts (1 packet per student)

  • 1 bag uncooked spaghetti (20 pasta sticks per team)

  • 1 roll of masking tape (1 yard or 1 meter per team)

  • 1 ball of string (1 yard or 1 meter per team)

  • 1 bag of marshmallows (1 marshmallow per team)

  • 1 ream of copy paper (10 sheets per team)

  • Colored pencils (1 pack per team)

  • Markers (1 pack per team)

  • Regular-sized sticky notes (1 pad per team)

  • Different types of arts and crafts paper and material (cardboard, construction paper, felt, pipe cleaners, Styrofoam, etc.; at least one of each of these items per team)

  • Ruler or tape measure

  • Large flipchart paper

Cost: US$93 in materials costs when completing this activity with 20 students organized into four teams of at least three students.