Looking for a fun STEAM activity to try at home? Brandon School teachers Lisa Lisle and Jenny Husak do this Marble Run with their 5th-grade students, but it can be adapted to a range of learners.
In this project, children design, engineer, and ultimately build a marble run. The challenge? The marble should take as close to 15 seconds as possible to complete the run. (Extensions: make the run as close to 180 cm as possible or try to slow the marble down as much as possible.) Kids can use materials commonly found around the house, including recyclables or materials you would otherwise throw away. Don’t have a marble? Roll a small ball out of clay or playdough, or find another spherical item in your home.
Use the Marble Run Student Book as an at-home guide or dive right in! Tag us on Instagram @goletaedufdn with your creations!
Here’s one group of students’ journey through the process.