Lichfield Pupils Embrace Sensational Sticky Science Challenge

A Lichfield junior school celebrated British Science Week by setting its pupils an architectural challenge with a sticky twist.

Children aged three to 10 at Lichfield Cathedral Junior School were tasked with creating a construction model inspired by their favourite building using only marshmallows and spaghetti.

The Spaghetti and Marshmallow Construction Challenge put the pupils’ science, technology, engineering and maths skills, known as STEM, to the test. 

Astonishing masterpieces

And the results were a host of astonishing “masterpieces”.

The youngsters fully embraced the challenge, drawing on observational curiosity, creative problem-solving and teamwork skills, to create a host of eye-catching structures.

They included Big Ben and the London Eye, Paris’ Eiffel Tower, San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge and the Egyptian pyramids.

An engineering mission

The Junior School’s Science Lead, Mrs Julie Peters, said: “Lichfield Cathedral School is passionate about promoting STEM activities to young children and inspiring all pupils, from nursery age upwards, to take part in collaborative activities, like the spaghetti challenge.

“This challenge was an engineering mission to investigate strength, stability, analytical and observational skills, all of which help to develop a scientific mind.

“It was a delight to see their masterpieces coming together and the children working collaboratively to explore and become independent enquirers.”

The construction challenge ran alongside British Science Week, during which time the children improved their knowledge of all things STEM, and was sponsored by Lichfield’s Entertainer store. The winning pupils received a Geomag magnetic construction toy.

Lichfield Cathedral School’s Junior site is based in Longdon, between Lichfield and Rugeley, while its Senior site is based around Lichfield Cathedral, in The Close, Lichfield.