How To Build a (Jumbo) Marshmallow Tower

Today we have a simple building activity for kids of all ages that uses things you likely already have at home – marshmallows and drinking straws. Kids can use these simple household items to create magical architecture. Building with marshmallows is an excellent STEM activity for home or in the classroom. This DIY building set is a favorite boredom buster at my house!

text: build marshmallow towers - expansive building of colorful drinking straws in red, orange and green held together by large marshmallows - Kids Activities Blog — Let’s Build with Big Marshmallows!

Simple Building Activity for Kids

With s’mores season winding to a close you might be wondering what to do with all those jumbo marshmallows. Might I suggest building a marshmallow tower? This awesome kid engineering project is simple to set up yet full of learning opportunities and good old fashioned fun.

I must admit I had as much fun as my preschooler with this one:

We found that building with marshmallows made a really cool activity for a playdate or party.
You can turn this STEM activity into a game by challenging the kids to build the tallest or most creative marshmallow structure possible!
Or challenge kids to come up with the most creative, tallest or strongest structure with the same number of marshmallows and straws.
Oh yes and I almost forgot, there’s the added tasty bonus of building with delicious materials.
Because this project uses large marshmallows and straws it is great for a wide age range: from toddlers to school kids.

Related: Build a Marshmallow Snowman

Supplies Needed To Build a Jumbo Marshmallow Tower

Jumbo Marshmallows
Plastic Drinking Straws
Scissors

step by step instructions to building marshmallow towers - three image collage with supplied needed, child building and finished marshmallow tower — This is How to Build a Tower with Marshmallows

How to Build Marshmallow Towers

Watch Our Quick Video Tutorial

Step 1

Cut straws at varying lengths, making sure to hold the scissors at an angle so that the ends of your straw pieces are pointed. You will want a nice variety of sizes but for stable building you will need many pieces at about the same size. I did a group of long, a group of short, and a group of medium that had the bendy bit at the center.

Step 2

On a stable surface, set up your straw pieces and marshmallows. Let your little one go to town building a tower or two, or a whole city!

Notes from this Building Activity

Add another layer of play by challenging them to see how tall they can build!
After all that hard work, don’t forget to enjoy a marshmallow treat!
This activity is so engrossing, it could easily buy you some quiet time. However, if you’re up for it, I highly recommend getting in on the building action, it really is a blast!

What are you waiting for? Go build a few tasty marshmallow towers!