Students will create a sculpture with toothpicks and marshmallows. This is a great S.T.E.M. activity.
By Judith Walsh [Judith is an Art Teacher Driver and Florence Bowser Elementary Schools, Suffolk VA.]
What You Need:
- small (mini) marshmallows
- toothpicks
- imagination
What You Do:
Students will make a marshmallow sculpture by sticking toothpicks into marshmallows and building up from a base.
I gave each student 20 marshmallows and a handful of toothpicks.
Next, I had them make a base by sticking 4 toothpicks into 4 marshmallows and making a square. Then they could build their sculpture up from there.
My only rule was that they had to build up, not have their sculpture lay flat on the table.
Notes: I did this lesson with my kindergarten classes and they had a ball!
Another Idea:
“I have used dried peas soaked over night at the joints in sculpture. What happens is that the peas soften for the construction. Then they harden like little concrete balls as they dry. This is for second grade and up.”
–Fran Salisbury
Image: almostunschoolers.blogspot.com
