Description

Students will work through this challenging activity of building marshmallow snowmen.

Supplies

• Two bags of marshmallows
• 2 pairs of chopsticks

How to Play

1. Divide your group into two teams.  Give each team a pair of chopsticks and a bag of marshmallows and have them sit down in a line shoulder to shoulder.
2. Let them know that as a team their goal is to build as many snowmen as possible.
3. Explain that a snowman is three marshmallows stacked one on top of each other. Let them know that they can only use the chopsticks to touch the marshmallows and no one’s hands should ever touch the marshmallows.
4. Let them know that you will keep time and each student will get thirty seconds with the chopsticks. When you say “snowball!” that means it is time for the students to pass the chopsticks to the person sitting beside them.
5. Students must make good choices on how they want to space out the snowmen and how they can help each other out throughout the activity. They must also make good choices not to touch the marshmallows. If someone’s hands touch the marshmallows those marshmallows must be put to the side.

Activity Prompts for Reflection

• What was difficult or frustrating about this activity? Why?
• Is there anything you would do differently if we did this activity again?
• What is a good choice you made while completing this challenge?
• What is a good choice your team made throughout this activity?

Other Ways to Play

• Give each student a pair of chopsticks, so that all hands are kept busy throughout the activity.
• Have the group use miniature marshmallows instead of large marshmallows to make this activity more challenging.

Additional Notes

• Use the SEL Activity Prompts to tie other SEL competencies to this activity.