Building business skills with the marshmallow–spaghetti challenge

Year 11 Business Management (IB) students recently took part in the Marshmallow–Spaghetti Challenge as a hands‑on introduction to different business structures. Working as sole proprietors, partnerships or corporations, students were tasked with building the tallest free‑standing structure using limited materials. This practical challenge helped them experience the realities of decision‑making, delegation, teamwork and risk-taking within different organisational forms. The activity sparked lively discussion, creative problem‑solving and genuine insight into how businesses operate in the real world. 

Vikki Cummins
HSIE Teacher

Student reflections:

In class, we participated in a marshmallow-spaghetti challenge that allowed us to envision the perspectives of people involved in sole proprietorship, partnerships and corporations. This metaphorical activity was incredibly helpful in my understanding of different businesses and how they are managed.
Cheylene Leung

Through active hands-on learning, we were able to learn the abstract concepts taught in class on a deeper level. 
Natalie Nguyen