Build the Great Wall of China… Out of Rice Krispies!
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Looking for a sweet and sticky way to bring ancient history to life? This edible Great Wall of China project is one of our all-time favorite history projects. Using simple materials like Rice Krispies and Cheerios, you can recreate one of the world’s most famous landmarks while reinforcing geography, engineering, and storytelling.
What Is the Great Wall of China?
The Great Wall of China is an enormous structure that was built over thousands of years to protect China’s northern border. It stretches more than 13,000 miles and includes watchtowers, battlements, and winding sections over rugged terrain. Originally begun by Emperor Qin Shi Huang, various Chinese dynasties contributed to the wall’s expansion across the centuries. Some sections date back over 2,000 years!
It’s one of the most remarkable architectural feats in history—so of course, we had to try building our own mini version.
We originally did this project while studying ancient China in The Story of the World, Volume 1. It was a huge hit in our homeschool. The kids still talk about it!
How to Make an Edible Great Wall
Ingredients & Supplies:
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1–2 batches of Rice Krispie treats
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Cheerios (for texture)
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Mini marshmallows (for battlements)
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Buttered 9×13 and bread pans
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Knife or spatula
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Wax paper or tray for building
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Optional: chocolate chips, pretzels, or candy stones for decorating
Instructions:
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Prepare a double batch of Rice Krispie treats, mixing in Cheerios for a brick-like texture.
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Press into greased 9×13 and bread pans. Let set for 10–15 minutes.
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Remove and cut into strips to form your wall pieces. Use bread pan pieces for battlements or towers.
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Assemble on a tray or board, adding mini marshmallows along the top for decoration.
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Optional: shape zig-zags, stairs, or winding paths like the real wall!
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Take pictures, admire your engineering—and then enjoy a sweet snack.
Educational Benefits
This tasty STEM activity reinforces:
- Geography: Understand where and why the wall was built
- History: Learn about ancient Chinese dynasties and architectural feats
- Architecture & Engineering: Experiment with building stability and design
- Math: Measure, cut, and compare lengths and heights
- Creative Play: Turn a lesson into an edible experience!
- Teamwork & Creativity: Especially if done in groups!
Books to Pair With This Project
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The Nightingale by Hans Christian Andersen
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The Empty Pot by Demi
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Chinese Mythology: The Four Dragons by Tom Daning
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Ten Suns: A Chinese Legend retold by Eric A. Kimmel
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You Wouldn’t Want to Work on the Great Wall of China! by Jacqueline Morley
Fun Variations
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Build a Giant Class Wall: Have each student build a segment at home and bring them together for a school-wide wall.
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Challenge Mode: Try making curves, towers, or gates.
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Map It Out: Build on top of a map of China to see where the wall would have stretched.
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Use Graham Crackers & Icing instead of Rice Krispies for a less sticky, more precise wall.
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Add Pretzel Sticks or Candy Pebbles to mimic ladders and terrain.
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Design a Watchtower Challenge: Have kids build a freestanding watchtower using only edible materials.
What a fun idea … LOVE it! I featured your post at the Living Montessori Now Facebook page and pinned it to my Kids’ Geography Board at http://pinterest.com/debchitwood/kids-geography-activities/
lol! That’s great!
What fun…I featured this on both my facebook page and on Hey Mom, Look What I Did this week, thanks for sharing!
This is fantastic! We’re also finishing up SOTW 1, but I’m thinking maybe we’ll build Hadrian’s Wall. What a cool, memorable idea you’ve come up with here!
Very interesting. I have that series, but we haven’t started it yet. I may have to try something like this with my grandchildren. Thank you.
What a great way to explore the vastness of the wall. I am going to feature this post tomorrow.