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Theme-Park Ride Laboratory

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Grades 3-560-75 minSource: Creative Dad Company

Kids build a marble-run roller coaster out of foam tubing, then measure speed and height to graph how their ride performs before tweaking the design for maximum thrills. It's a hands-on way to feel forces and motion while sneaking in real data collection.

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Prep: 10 minActivity: 45 min1 session~$2/groupOne table or a clear section of floorBeginner-friendly

Setup

Place common or recycled supplies for Theme-Park Ride Laboratory on one work surface and choose a safe area for the test. Read the four activity directions aloud; drawings, paper models, and household substitutes may replace specialized materials, and no digital tool is required.

Activity

  1. Sketch a ride layout and predict which hill heights and turns will make the marble go fastest or slowest.
  2. Build the coaster track by taping foam tubing to a wall or cardboard frame in the planned layout.
  3. Test the ride by timing the marble's run and measuring its speed at different points, then redesign a section when the marble flies off a turn or stalls on a hill.
  4. Graph the final speed data and present the ride to park inspectors, explaining which design choices created the biggest thrill safely.

Done when: The group produces the Theme-Park Ride Laboratory solution, completes the described test, makes the revision called for by the evidence, and supports its final explanation with an observed or measured result.

Materials

foam pipe insulation tubing, marbles, tape, cardboard, stopwatch, ruler, graph paper

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. Sketch a ride layout and predict which hill heights and turns will make the marble go fastest or slowest.
  2. Build the coaster track by taping foam tubing to a wall or cardboard frame in the planned layout.
  3. Test the ride by timing the marble's run and measuring its speed at different points, then redesign a section when the marble flies off a turn or stalls on a hill.
  4. Graph the final speed data and present the ride to park inspectors, explaining which design choices created the biggest thrill safely.

Standards it satisfies

  • NGSS · 3-PS2-1

    Plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence of the effects of balanced and unbalanced forces on the motion of an object.