Earthquake Gelatin Shake Test Activity

Gelatin mix (several boxes for a thick slab)

A large baking pan

Toothpicks and marshmallows

Sugar cubes

Small wooden blocks

Make a large batch of firm gelatin and pour into a baking pan. Refrigerate until solid.

Unmold the gelatin slab onto a baking tray.

Give your child building materials: toothpicks, marshmallows, sugar cubes, small blocks.

Challenge them to build structures on top of the jiggly gelatin surface.

When buildings are ready, shake the tray to simulate an earthquake.

Watch what stands and what falls. Ask: "Why did that one survive? Why did the tall one fall?"

Rebuild with improvements and test again. Try wider bases, shorter heights, triangle supports.

The gelatin acts like real earthquake ground — it transmits vibrations unpredictably, just like soil during a quake.

This is real engineering: your child hypothesizes, builds, tests, observes, and modifies. That's the scientific method.

Encourage predictions before each shake: "Do you think this one will stand? Why?"

Increase shake intensity each round for more dramatic collapses.

The squishy, jiggly gelatin surface is a sensory experience in itself — kids love pressing their hands into it between building rounds.