This marble run set has a wide variety of pieces that fit together securely, enabling children to design, build, test and modify without having to worry about balancing.
Who could use this?
This box could be during a Design Technology topic, thinking about selecting materials for a particular purpose. This box could be used as a class team building or problem solving session or at a STEM club or family workshop.
Curriculum links
Key Stage 1 Design Technology
- Design – design purposeful, functional, appealing products for themselves and other users based on design criteria
- Make – select from and use a wide range of materials and components, including construction
materials, textiles and ingredients, according to their characteristics - Evaluate – evaluate their ideas and products against design criteria
- Technical knowledge – explore and use mechanisms in their products
What’s in the box?
Everything in our Marble Run box is colour coded so that you can tidy it away easily and into the correct bags and boxes.
- Straight, curved and spiral tracks
- Wooden blocks for building and joining
- Plastic and wooden components
- Pieces for turning and redirecting marbles
Download the complete contents list here.
Download step by step instructions to build a marble run with the pieces in the box here.
Activities to support the use of this box at school and at home
You could try our make your own marble run activity. You will need cardboard, tape, a flat surface and a marble, you can be as imaginative and creative as you want! This activity is best done on a wall, door or fridge, but can easily be made in a large cardboard box.
Careers links
The Primary Science Teaching Trust has some additional careers links you may like to look at. These are called “A scientist just like me” and introduce children to a diverse range of scientists.
The downloadable power points relevant to this box are
Mechanical Engineer Dr Rafsan Chowdhury
Mechanical Engineer Danial Azahan