There are a lot of engineering activities for kids out there, but not all of them are easy. If you have spaghetti in your house (or any dried, long noodle), then you already have everything you need to create the spaghetti engineering project!
Today’s project is extremely simple, yet teaches some important information about engineering, construction, and critical thinking skills. That’s why it is one of our favorite no-prep STEM challenges!
This project just goes to show that you don’t have to have fancy tools or a lot of elaborate planning or set up to help kids unlock the STEM side of their brains!
How to Do the Spaghetti Engineering Project
Follow along with these directions to learn how to set up your own spaghetti engineering activity for kids in elementary school.
There are a lot of structural engineering concepts that you can teach children just with plain dry spaghetti noodles.
What You Need for the Spaghetti Engineering Challenge
- Spaghetti
- Cans
- Books
More Engineering Activities for Kids
If you need more inspiring engineering activities, why not try some of these next?
How to Stack Apples: Apple Engineering Challenge for Kids!
Summer Skies Marshmallow Constellations Engineering Activity for Kids
How to Build an Easy LEGO Car- Step-by-Step Directions
Water Strider Engineering Activity
And if you need even more engineering activities for kids, check out our full list of ideas!
How to Set Up the Spaghetti Engineering Project
All you need for this project is some dry spaghetti, some cans or books, and something heavy to put in the center of the bridge.
Before starting the project, ask the students if they think spaghetti is strong, and how many pieces of spaghetti it will take before it can hold up the weight of a can. Have the students record their answers in their STEM notebooks.
Spaghetti Bridge Engineering Challenge
Teach structural engineering with spaghetti! Just 2 simple materials are needed for this spaghetti engineering project!
Materials
- Dry spaghetti noodles
- Large soup cans (1 per group of kids)
- Books or cans for the sides of the bridge
Instructions
- Have the kids test the strength of one strand of spaghetti. Then keep adding strands until the kids can no longer break the spaghetti noodles. Have the students record how many noodles they could break in their notebook.
- Have the children hypothesize how many noodles it will take to hold up a large soup can.
- While the children are completing the strength, test, talk about how many materials used in manufacturing are layered and work together with multiple parts to increase the strength of various items.
- Divide the kids into groups of 4-5 and have them build their spaghetti bridges.
- Have the children record how many noodles it took to hold up the can.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Would you try this extremely easy spaghetti engineering project with your students?
