The document describes a competition where teams had 20 minutes to build the tallest freestanding tower using only 1 pound of marshmallows and 2 pounds of spaghetti. The rules state that the tower must stand on its own to be measured, teams cannot support their structure or eat the materials, and no outside materials can be used. After the competition, questions are asked about team planning, leadership, collaboration, challenges, and how the experience relates to online education.

1. Marshmallows and Spaghetti
Open SUNY Summit
March 6, 2019

2. The Task: To Build the Tallest Tower
The Tools: One Pound of Marshmallows
Two Ponds of Spaghetti
The Time: 20 Minutes
The Team: Four Members on Each Team

3. The Rules:
1. Your challenge is to build the tallest freestanding structure using
only the materials provided. The measurement will be from
the base of your tower to the top of your tower.
2. The structure must stand on its own for measuring. Teams
touching or supporting their structure will be disqualified.
3. Teams can choose to use all or just some of the materials
provided. Extra materials cannot be used. No web searching is
allowed.
4. Teams cannot eat their marshmallows.

4. Planning Leadership Collaboration
Did your team have a
plan? Did the plan
work?
Was there a leader on
your team? Who was it
and who decided who
the leader would be?
What did collaboration
look like and sound
like?
What was the biggest
challenge you faced?
The biggest celebration?
If you had no leader, do
you think having
designated someone a
leader would have
helped?
Why?
How did you deal with
frustration?
What put a limit on how
tall your tower could be?
What leadership style
worked best for this
activity?
Were all teammates
included?

5. Do any of your tower building
experiences relate to online
education at your institutions?
SUNY Online?
In what ways?

6. And the winning group is……