Spaghetti and swing sets???

Recently, Mrs. Moss's gifted 5th graders stepped into the shoes of structural engineers for a hands-on STEM challenge. The mission? Design and build a functional, free-standing swing set using a strict budget of materials.
Armed with nothing but spaghetti noodles, string, an index card, tape, and marshmallows, these bright minds had to collaborate, brainstorm, and think outside the box. They quickly discovered that turning fragile pasta into a sturdy, weight-bearing frame requires serious strategy!
This is definitely one of the more difficult STEM challenges they will see this year! Check out the video at the end!
Engineering in Action
  • The Blueprint: Teams had to figure out how to balance flexibility with stability.
  • The Pivot: When frames collapsed or spaghetti snapped, students analyzed the failure and redesigned on the fly.
  • The Result: Students discovered how to evenly spread out weight, increase stability with the use of triangular shapes, and persevere even through repeated failed attempts.
















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