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Push Pull Marble Mazes

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Grades K-240-60 minSource: Creative Dad Company

Builders design a cardboard marble maze, then tune ramps and walls until a marble makes it from start to finish. A great intro to force and motion that ends with a decorated mini world.

Choose your version

Every level teaches the same core idea — pick the one that fits your time, budget, and energy today.

Prep: 8 minActivity: 35 min1 session~$2/groupOne table or clear floor areaBeginner-friendly

Setup

Gather only common or recycled items needed to glue craft sticks inside the box lid to build walls, ramps, and gates for the marble to travel through. Place the materials beside a simple recording sheet or blank paper, and prepare the Push Pull Marble Mazes challenge in one working area; no digital device is needed.

Activity

  1. Predict what a marble will do on a flat surface versus a tilted one, and why a push in one direction sends it a certain way.
  2. Glue craft sticks inside the box lid to build walls, ramps, and gates for the marble to travel through.
  3. Test the maze by tilting the box different directions, noting which pushes and angles get the marble to the finish.
  4. Paint or decorate the maze as a themed world, such as an underwater reef or a mountain trail, so the finished build looks intentional, not scrappy.

Done when: The learner completes Push Pull Marble Mazes after carrying out this core test: Test the maze by tilting the box different directions, noting which pushes and angles get the marble to the finish. The learner then uses that result to complete the final task: Paint or decorate the maze as a themed world, such as an underwater reef or a mountain trail, so the finished build looks intentional, not scrappy.

Materials

Shallow cardboard box, craft sticks, marbles, tape, markers or paint

Shown for the Quick Start version — switch tabs above to see what changes.

Disclosure: Materials links below go to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate, Creative Dad Company earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

Steps

  1. Predict what a marble will do on a flat surface versus a tilted one, and why a push in one direction sends it a certain way.
  2. Glue craft sticks inside the box lid to build walls, ramps, and gates for the marble to travel through.
  3. Test the maze by tilting the box different directions, noting which pushes and angles get the marble to the finish.
  4. Paint or decorate the maze as a themed world, such as an underwater reef or a mountain trail, so the finished build looks intentional, not scrappy.

Standards it satisfies

  • NGSS · K-PS2-1

    Plan and conduct an investigation to compare the effects of different strengths or directions of pushes and pulls on the motion of an object.