Earthquake-Proof Structure Challenge | K-6 Maker Challenge

Grade Level: 3-6
Time: 60 minutes
Group Size: 2-3 students per team

Materials Needed (per team):

30-40 large marshmallows (standard size, not mini)
50-60 toothpicks (sharp tips; remind students to point them away from faces and hands)
1 disposable aluminum foil pan or shallow tray (9” x 9” or similar)
Jello (prepared and set in pan) OR 2 cups of marbles/dried beans in pan
Ruler for measuring height
Paper and pencil for recording data

The Challenge:

Build the tallest possible structure that can survive an earthquake simulation. Your structure must:

Stand on a “shaky foundation” (pan filled with jello or marbles)
Survive 10 seconds of shaking (earthquake simulation)
The taller your structure, the more points you earn—BUT it must survive to count!

Learning Objectives:

Seismic engineering: How buildings resist earthquake forces
Base isolation: Why flexible foundations help structures survive
Center of gravity: Understanding stability and height
Risk vs reward: Balancing ambition (height) with practicality (stability)
Real-world connections: Earthquake-resistant design in California, Japan, Chile

Setup (10 minutes):

Prepare Shake Tables:

Option A: Jello Base (More Realistic)

Make jello following package directions (do this before class)
Pour into aluminum pans and refrigerate until firm
This creates a wobbly foundation that mimics ground movement during earthquakes

Option B: Marble Base (Easier Prep)

Fill aluminum pans with 1-2 inches of marbles or dried beans
Structures sit on top of moving marbles
Simulates unstable ground

Demonstration:

Show videos of:

Buildings swaying during earthquakes
Earthquake-resistant buildings in Tokyo or San Francisco
The famous Taipei 101 building with its tuned mass damper

Key Point: “Real buildings in earthquake zones are designed to SWAY, not stay rigid. Rigid buildings crack and fall. Flexible buildings survive.”

Building Phase (30 minutes):

Planning (5 minutes):

Have teams discuss:

How tall should we build? (Taller = more points but harder to stabilize)
What shape is most stable? (Wide base? Triangular? Square?)
Should we make it flexible or rigid?

Engineering Insight: “Marshmallows and toothpicks create FLEXIBLE joints—perfect for earthquake resistance. If you make it too rigid, it will topple. If you make it too wobbly, it will collapse. Find the balance.”

Building Strategies:

Option 1: Pyramid Design (Stable, Shorter)

Create a wide square base (4x4 marshmallows)
Build up in layers, each layer smaller than the one below
Forms a pyramid shape
Very stable, but limited height

Pros: Unlikely to fall
Cons: Won’t score maximum points for height

Option 2: Tower Design (Taller, Riskier)

Create a small base (2x2 or 3x3 marshmallows)
Build straight up as high as possible
Add diagonal cross-bracing for stability

Pros: Maximum height if it survives
Cons: More likely to topple during shaking

Option 3: Wide Base Tower (Best of Both)

Build a wide stable base (4x4 or 5x5)
Tower up from center
Add triangular supports connecting tower to base

Pros: Good balance of height and stability
Cons: Uses more materials

Building Tips:

Triangles for Strength:

Connect toothpicks in triangular patterns
Triangles don’t collapse under pressure (unlike squares)
Use triangular bracing on all sides

Wide Base = Stable:

Think of the Eiffel Tower: wide base, narrow top
The lower the center of gravity, the harder it is to tip over
If your structure is wobbly when you place it, it will fall during shaking

Test Before Earthquake:

Gently tap the pan before official testing
If it immediately falls, rebuild with more stability
Don’t wait until the official test to discover problems!

Marshmallow Placement:

Push toothpicks all the way through marshmallows
Marshmallows create flexible joints (good for earthquakes!)
Don’t eat the marshmallows during building (save for after!)

Earthquake Simulation (15 minutes):

Testing Protocol:

Setup:

Measure structure height from base of pan to highest point
Record height on scoring sheet
Place structure in center of jello/marble pan

Earthquake Simulation:

Teacher holds pan with both hands
Shake horizontally back and forth (like shaking a gift box)
Start gently for 3 seconds, increase intensity for 7 seconds
Total shake time: 10 seconds

Survival Criteria:

Structure must remain standing after shaking stops
Some pieces can fall off, but main structure must be upright
If it tips over or collapses, it doesn’t count (height = 0 points)

Scoring System:

Height Points:

0-6 inches: 10 points
7-12 inches: 20 points
13-18 inches: 30 points
19+ inches: 40 points

Survival Bonus:

Structure survives = points earned
Structure falls = 0 points (no matter how tall it was)

Optional Categories:

“Tallest Survivor” award
“Most Creative Design” award
“Engineering Excellence” (best balance of height + stability)

Discussion Questions:

Before Testing:

What do you think will happen when your structure shakes?
Is your structure designed to be rigid or flexible? Why?
What’s your strategy: go tall and risky, or short and safe?

After Testing:

What happened to the tallest structures?
Which design strategy worked best?
How did the flexible marshmallow joints help (or hurt)?
What would you change if you built another one?

Real-World Connections:

Why do buildings in California look different from buildings in Connecticut?
How do engineers make skyscrapers earthquake-proof?
What is a “tuned mass damper” and how does it work?

Differentiation:

For Younger Students (Grade 3):

Focus on building something that stands, not maximum height
Demonstrate a simple pyramid design they can copy
Celebrate any structure that survives, regardless of height
Gentle earthquake simulation

For Older Students (Grades 5-6):

Require calculation of height-to-base ratio
Height-to-base ratio = total height divided by base width. Example: a 16-inch structure on a 4-inch-wide base has a 4:1 ratio, and lower ratios are usually more stable.
Challenge: Build exactly 18 inches tall (precision engineering)
Use stronger earthquake simulation
Require written explanation of their design choices

Extension Challenges:

Add Mass Test: Place a small weight (marble or penny) on top of structure before shaking. Can it survive with extra weight?

Aftershock Test: Structures that survive first earthquake face a second, stronger shake.

Limited Materials: Use only 20 marshmallows and 30 toothpicks. Forces strategic material use.

Specific Design Requirement: Must include a “building” (enclosed space with roof) on top of structure.

Science Behind Earthquakes & Engineering:

What Causes Earthquakes:

Earth’s crust is made of large plates that move
When plates grind against each other, pressure builds
Sudden release of pressure = earthquake
Ground shakes horizontally AND vertically

Engineering Solutions:

Base Isolation:

Building sits on flexible bearings that absorb ground movement
Ground shakes, building stays relatively still
(Marshmallow joints mimic this!)

Flexible Design:

Buildings designed to sway during earthquakes
Steel frames bend but don’t break
Better to sway than crack

Counterweight Systems:

Taipei 101 has a giant pendulum inside
When building sways one way, pendulum swings opposite direction
Cancels out movement

Strong Foundation:

Wide base distributes weight
Deeper foundations anchor building
(Wide marshmallow base mimics this!)

Real-World Earthquake Engineering:

Show photos/videos of:

Transamerica Pyramid (San Francisco):

Pyramid shape for stability
Flexible steel frame
Survived 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake with minimal damage

Taipei 101 (Taiwan):

101-story skyscraper in earthquake zone
730-ton tuned mass damper on 88th-92nd floors
Sways during earthquakes but stays upright

Tokyo Buildings (Japan):

Many buildings on shock-absorbing bases
Flexible design philosophy
Regular earthquake drills

Common Problems & Solutions:

Problem	Why It Happens	Solution
Structure immediately falls when placed	Base too small or top-heavy	Wider base, shorter height, or move weight lower
Structure leans before shaking	Not built straight up	Check for vertical alignment while building
Top breaks off during shaking	Weak connection between base and tower	Reinforce with triangular bracing
Whole structure slides across pan	No connection to base	Push toothpicks into jello/marbles slightly
Marshmallows split	Toothpicks inserted too roughly	Insert gently, or use slightly stale marshmallows (firmer)

Math & Data Integration:

Measurement:

Measure height in inches and centimeters
Calculate height-to-base ratio
Compare winning heights across teams

Data Collection: Create a class chart:

Team name
Structure height (before shaking)
Design type (pyramid, tower, etc.)
Survived? (Yes/No)
Points earned

Graphing:

Bar graph: Height of each structure
Pie chart: What percentage survived vs. fell?
Line graph: If doing multiple tests, show improvement over time

Connection to Other Subjects:

Geography:

Map tectonic plates
Identify earthquake-prone regions
Compare building codes in California vs. Florida

History:

1906 San Francisco earthquake
2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami
How building techniques evolved after major quakes

Current Events:

Recent earthquakes in the news
International cooperation on earthquake-resistant design
How engineers help after natural disasters

Materials Note:

Cost:

Marshmallows: ~$3-4 per bag (makes 3-4 structures)
Toothpicks: ~$2 per box (makes many structures)
Jello: ~$1 per box
Aluminum pans: ~$5 for pack of 10
Total per team: ~$3

Alternatives:

Use gumdrops instead of marshmallows
Use straws and clay balls instead of toothpicks and marshmallows
Use a cookie sheet with dried beans instead of aluminum pan

Reuse:

Marshmallows can’t be reused (students may eat them!)
Toothpicks can be saved if not broken
Jello can be reused multiple times if refrigerated

Why This Challenge Resonates:

Real-World Relevance: Every student has heard of earthquakes. This makes abstract engineering concepts tangible.

Built-In Tension: The height vs. stability trade-off creates genuine engineering dilemmas. Go tall and risky? Or safe and short?

Immediate Feedback: The shake test provides instant, dramatic results. Either it stands or it doesn’t—no ambiguity.

Teaches Failure Management: Most structures will fall. That’s okay! The question is: what did you learn? How will you build it differently next time?

Connects to Current Events: When earthquakes are in the news, students remember this challenge and understand why some buildings survive while others don’t.

When students see news coverage of an earthquake, they’ll look at the buildings that stayed standing and think: “I bet those have wide bases and flexible frames—just like my marshmallow tower.”

That’s when you know the learning stuck.