We have been playing with a marble run; and my older preschoolers and their parents have loved it.
You need:
- cardboard tubes - paper towel tubes, gift wrap tubes, toilet paper tubes…
- magnets
- marbles or ping pong balls
- hot glue or another adhesive
- packing or duct tape (optional)
- large baking sheet, refrigerator, or other metal surface
How to:
- Use the original size tubes and or cut them to various lengths
- Cover in tape. This is optional. I used tape so that they could be wiped down.
- Hot glue the magnets onto the tubes
Now just play!
Ping pong balls work well and are a little easier to manage for small hands. Plus they are less likely to roll under the refrigerator. :)
This was a mailing tube that we used at the bottom, it did a great job of catching the marbles at the end of the run. We tried to catch them in plastic containers too.
We also used a baking sheet in our laps. I would hold it and the children would adjust the tubes. It was a little more cramped and it took some patience but it worked to0:
I hot glued the magnets onto the tubes. I tried magnetic tape but it wasn’t strong enough to hold the tubes onto the surface. These round magnets worked very well.
A marble run teaches problem solving, attention to task, physics, patience and teamwork.
Marble runs are everywhere!
Here are some wonderful sites that have different options and variations for marble runs and games that you can try:
A Mom With a Lesson Plan – Monster Marble Game
Growing a Jeweled Rose – Creative Magnets and a Marble Run
NurtureStore – How to Make a Junk Marble Run
Red Ted Art – How to Make Your Own Marble Run
Rock-a-bye-Butterfly – Fun with Marbles This post has a round up of marble activities as well!
Have fun building, creating, and running marbles together!
Connect with Creative Connections for Kids on Facebook!
This post has been linked to the following wonderful sites. Check them out!
No Time for Flashcards – Link and Learn
Classified: Mom – The Sunday Showcase
Let Kids Create – Monday Madness
I Can Teach My Child - Show and Share Saturday
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I have seen these before but not as eye catching and beautifully decorated. Looks like such fun! I am a new follower visiting from No Time For Flashcards. Vicky from Mess For Less
Thanks Vicky! They have definitely improved duck tape and packing tape in recent years.:)
this is super cool! Our fridge is stainless steel, but we have metal doors so this would be super fun to start from the top of the door! Thanks for posting! Pinning!
Metal doors would be great. You don’t have to worry about the balls rolling under it.
Great post! Such a simple toy to create, and little ones love it! Thanks for linking mine in there
)))
My little boy loves when we do this on the fridge. Love how you decorated your rolls.
Love this – I keep meaning to make one, but couldn’t work out the logistics of sticking it to the wall – the magnet idea is inspired!
I love how you decorated your marble run!
Thanks Joyce!
This really looks like fun! The tubes are so wonderfully decorated!
Beautiful! I can’t believe I haven’t made one for my daughter. Gottu make one soon
Thank you for the inspiration!
We’ve been meaning to make our own marble run like this for awhile. Your post is inspiring!
Oooh that is so preeeeettty! Love it! Love the use of magnets too. Great for exploration!
Thank you for including ours!
Maggy
fun! thanks for sharing on the sunday showcase – pinned this one! we love marble runs!!!
Such a cool idea! Pinning
LOVE THIS!! I know my kiddos will too! Thanks for the inspiration!!
What a colorful marble run. We tried this type of run, but only had strip magnets so we didn’t have much success. I’m happy to see on like this that works! Thanks for sharing on Monday Madness.
We tried the strip magnets too, and they just weren’t strong enough.
Just stopping by to let you know that I’ve featured your craft on Family Fun Crafts! You can see it here:
http://funfamilycrafts.com/fun-with-a-marble-run/
If you have other kid friendly crafts, I’d love it if you would submit them.
If you would like to display a
featured button on your site, you can grab one from the right side bar of your post above.
[...] Ping Pong Ball (or marble run) from gift wrapping and paper towel tubes: [...]