My daughter is obsessed with marble runs, and this may be the fourth one we’ve built in one week, including this one we made last week with a cardboard box. I’ve also included some ways to extend this project for a more “colorful” craft. This is a fabulous math and physical science lesson!
Materials:
- toilet paper rolls
- masking tape (colored masking tape optional)
- scissors
- marbles (balls, jellybeans, or other small rounded objects will work)
- a basket
Instructions
If you like, start by wrapping the rolls with colored masking tape. This took us a good part of the morning! We had fun selecting colors, layering and wrapping tape and cutting the rolls.- Once the rolls are appropriately covered, use scissors to cut each tube the long way, right down the center, so you have two U-shaped half tubes.
Find some free wall space and tape the highest tube to a spot that your child can easily reach. Keep taping rolls to the wall, descending toward the floor, until you find an arrangement you’re happy with.- Before you start taping tubes everywhere, test angles and distances to make sure they connect the way you want them to. Try a few different arrangements until it’s a smooth run.
- Place a marble at the top of the first tube and watch the magic happen!
We needed something to catch the marbles (and jellybeans!) at the end of the run, and a strawberry basket was just right for the job. Any basket or soft landing space will work.
If you like, take down the marble run and reconstruct another one in a different location. It’s fun every time!
