Activity Instruction Page
Construct a Marble Run
- Activity Type: Hands-On Activity
- Theme: Friendship & Kindness
- Learning Center: Blocks & Small World Play Center
Have children work together to construct a marble run and test it out. A great activity for fostering collaboration and team-building.
Materials & Direction
Materials List:
– Cardboard tubes (toilet paper or paper towel rolls work well)
– Cardboard boxes or other flat surfaces
– Tape
– Scissors
– Marbles
Preschool Learning Objectives:
1. Develop fine motor skills by cutting, folding, and taping cardboard tubes.
2. Foster creativity and critical thinking skills by designing and building a marble run.
3. Enhance teamwork and collaboration skills by working together to construct the marble run.
4. Learn about gravity and cause and effect by testing different designs and observing how marbles roll through the run.
Preschool Teacher Instructions:
1. Gather all necessary materials and set them out on a table for the children to access.
2. Explain to the children that they will be working together to build a marble run using the cardboard tubes, boxes, and tape provided.
3. Encourage the children to brainstorm ideas for their marble run design and work together to create it.
4. Provide guidance and support as needed, helping children with cutting and taping the cardboard tubes if necessary.
5. Once the marble run is constructed, have the children take turns testing it out by rolling marbles through it.
6. Encourage the children to observe how the marbles move through the run and discuss what they notice.
7. Allow time for the children to make adjustments to their design and test it out again.
8. Praise the children for their teamwork and collaboration throughout the activity.
Teacher Tips for Differentiated Instruction:
– Offer different sizes of cardboard tubes to accommodate children’s varying fine motor skills.
– Provide visual aids or examples of marble runs to help guide children who may need extra support in designing their own.
– Pair children with different skill levels together to encourage peer-to-peer learning and collaboration.
Assessment Suggestions:
– Observe how well children work together as a team to construct the marble run.
– Evaluate children’s fine motor skills as they cut, fold, and tape the cardboard tubes.
– Assess children’s ability to problem solve and make adjustments to their marble run design based on observations of how the marbles move through it.
