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    Home » Science Experiments for Kids » Amazing Homemade Marble Runs

    Amazing Homemade Marble Runs

    March 31, 2020 By Emma Vanstone 1 Comment

    After being inspired by a family STEM challenge evening at school, we’re a bit obsessed with marble runs! I love that you can make them from recycled materials so there’s no cost, they are great to build alone or as part of team and there are almost endless possibilities. We’ve kept these quite simple, but are working on some more complex versions.

    If you like these, you might like our other easy engineering projects too.

    Everything you need to make a recycled marble run #scienceforkids #sciencesparks

    What you’ll need to build a recycled marble run

    Tape – we use masking tape, but anything will work.

    Cardboard tubes – kitchen roll, toilet roll etc all work well.

    Other bits of recycled packaging – boxes, bottles etc – optional

    Egg cartons – optional

    Large box or sheet of card to build it against

    Marble or table tennis ball

    Scissors

    Build it!

    The best thing about building this STEM Project is that you can be as creative as you like.

    If you don’t have a big box to build it inside, we’ve also built them by attaching tubes to a wall, just make sure you ask a parent first and use masking tape so it doesn’t rip the paint off!

    Image of a homemade marble run made from a cardboard box

    Space Homemade Marble Run

    This one is taken from my book This is Rocket Science and is used to demonstrate gravity!

    Space Marble Run made by covering a large sheet of cardboard with foil and taping cardboard tubes to it.

    Reusable Marble Run

    I made this one for a school science fair several years ago. The velcro strips mean the pipes and tubes can be moved around.

    homemade marble run. Reusable marble run made using segments of pipes and velcro. Fun science for kids

    Homemade Marble Run in a Box

    If you have an empty box hanging around our box version was super easy to put together.

    You’ll notice we added a tube going upwards at the end.

    Homemade Marble run in a box made with tape and cardboard tubes

    Recycled Marble Run on a Wall

    Remember to only build this one if you’ve asked a parent and are using masking tape!

    marble run made by taping cardboard tubes to a wall

    More Ideas

    Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls has an awesome craft stick marble run.

    If you’d rather a shop bought marble run, we love our Quadrilla Marble Run.

    Top Tips

    Cut tubes in half so you have twice as many.

    Use yoghurt pots, small boxes or a paper cup to catch the marble in at the end.

    Make it a challenge

    Can you get the ball to go up instead of down?

    Challenge a friend to see who can make the fastest or slowest version.

    Slow the marble down by adding some friction, this could be velcro or rough paper attached to the inside of a tube.

    Try the marble run challenge on the James Dyson website. There’s a fantastic video talking about the engineering behind marble runs to watch too.

    marble run ideas for kids

    Last Updated on February 11, 2022 by Emma Vanstone

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    Safety Notice

    Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

    These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jenny Watson

      April 02, 2020 at 10:50 am

      have you googled ‘Paper plate marble run’ and looked at the images there? More great ideas!

      Reply

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