Team Towers Teams earn toothpicks and marshmallows by answering questions and then compete to construct the tallest tower. Age Range: 5 to 12 Skill Used: factual knowledge Number of Players: 5 to 11 Noise Level: moderate Activity Level: moderate Materials: question-and-answer cards,
toothpicks, mini-marshmallows, timer, ruler
Setup Question cards are prepared using vocabulary words, facts, and concepts from a particular unit of study, and the answers are included on the reverse to make them self-checking for players. For example, if the topic was about world exploration, a sample question could be: Name the monarch who financed Columbus’s first voyage (Queen Isabella of Spain). There should be about 10 cards per player. Marshmallows should be tested to ensure that they are neither stuck together nor hard. Fresh marshmallows work best for this game.
How to Play One player is chosen as the game director and the others form teams of two. The game director reads a question to the player selected to go first. If the player responds correctly, he or she takes the card. Cards are shown to each player in turn until all the cards have been collected. Then, the players “buy” building supScience and Social Studies Games
plies from the game director by exchanging cards. One card buys a toothpick; two cards buy one marshmallow. When all teams have traded for building supplies, the game director starts the timer and teams compete to build the tallest tower possible with their supplies within five minutes. Once building starts, supplies cannot be traded or exchanged. When time is up, the tower must stand on its own. Any team attempting to topple another tower by blowing on it or rocking the table is disqualified. At the end of the time limit, structures are measured by the game director and the team with the tallest tower is the winner.
Variation Popcorn and pieces of uncooked spaghetti
can be substituted for the marshmallows and toothpicks. Using uncooked spaghetti adds a new twist to the game because the pieces will not all be the exact same size. They can be “priced” by length at 3 inches per card. The spaghetti version of the game also allows players to break the pieces to improve their structures.
Tip It is wise to set guidelines for disposal of
the building supplies at the end of the game. Players will probably want to eat the marshmallows or popcorn (if used) once the winner is selected.
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