Toothpick structures are a fantastic, low-cost, and easy STEM challenge that will keep kids busy for hours. We used cocktail sticks, but you could also use straws or spaghetti.
I set the children a challenge to build a structure that would hold a chocolate egg off the ground.
![toothpick towers STEM challenge. Image of towers built with toothpicks and plasticine as part of an Easter STEM Challenge.](https://www.science-sparks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/toothpick-towers-STEM-Challenge-1024x1024.jpg)
Toothpick structure materials
Toothpicks or cocktail sticks
Plasticine
Paper
Chocolate eggs
How to build a toothpick structure
There are no instructions for this one, apart from the building a structure that:
- Stands up with no extra support.
- Only use the materials above.
- Can hold a small chocolate egg without falling over.
These are the structures my children built. What do you think?
![STEM Challenge - toothpick Structuress with creme eggs on top for an Easter science activity](https://www.science-sparks.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/DSC_2411.jpg)
![toothpick structures with chocolate eggs on top for a fun Easter STEM Challenge](https://www.science-sparks.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/DSC_2414.jpg)
We then tested to see if our structures could also hold chicks and rabbits. These were lighter, so it wasn’t much of a problem.
![toothpick structures to hold small chicks for an Easter STEM challenge](https://www.science-sparks.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/DSC_2448.jpg)
![STEM Challenge - toothpick Structures](https://www.science-sparks.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/DSC_2450-e1521752097137.jpg)
Things to think about – building a strong toothpick structure
Shapes are a good thing to think about when building toothpick structures like this. We found a square shape with extra support in the form of triangles made a stronger structure.
Triangles, arches and domes are all strong shapes and are used by engineers to make structures strong. Next time you see a bridge, count how many different shapes you can see.
Imagine a square made from straws. If you push down, it will fold down on itself, but a triangle won’t collapse unless one of its sides breaks. Any force applied to a triangle is evenly distributed from the vertex to the base. This means triangles are much stronger than squares.
Free activity sheet
![Easter toothpick challenge STEM challenge activity sheet page 1](https://www.science-sparks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/STEM-Challenge-Template-EASTER-toothpick-STEM-Challenge-1-724x1024.jpg)
![Easter toothpick tower STEM challenge printable page 2](https://www.science-sparks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/STEM-Challenge-Template-EASTER-toothpick-STEM-Challenge-2-724x1024.jpg)
![Easter STEM Challenge toothpick tower instructions](https://www.science-sparks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Egg-toothpick-tower-724x1024.jpg)
Extension ideas
Can you build a tower that is at least 10cm high? Or 20 cm high?
How about a tower that can hold three chocolate eggs?
Can you build the chicks a new house? We used blueberries for this one.
![toothpick chick house made with blueberries and toohtpicks](https://www.science-sparks.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/DSC_2369.jpg)
More Science for Kids
Learn about strong shapes with paper columns.
Build a zip line to transport an Easter egg to a friend.
Or try one of our easy spring science experiments for kids.
What else could you use to stick the toothpicks to each other? How about mini marshmallows?
![Build towers with toothpicks and plasticine strong enough to support a chocolate egg. Easy Easter STEM Challenge for kids](https://www.science-sparks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/toothpick-towers-Pin--683x1024.jpg)
Last Updated on March 26, 2024 by Emma Vanstone
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