Paper Marble Run Art Wall
Source: Stemoto Original
Turn a blank wall into a massive kinetic sculpture! Kids engineer an intricate roller coaster for marbles using folded paper tracks, funnels, and cardboard drops, taped directly to the wall.
Categorisation
Props & Materials Required
- •Lots of thick paper or cardstock
- •Painter's tape (so it doesn't ruin the wall paint!)
- •Scissors
- •Glass marbles or small bouncy balls
- •Paper cups (for the catch basin)
Step-by-Step Instructions
Fold the Tracks
Cut your paper into long strips. Fold the sides up to create U-shaped channels. These will be the straightaways for your roller coaster.
Tape the Start
Pick a high spot on a blank wall or a glass door. Tape your first track at a slight downward angle. Drop a marble in it to see how fast it rolls.
Engineer the Turns
When the marble reaches the end of the first track, it needs to drop into another track heading the opposite way! Fold wider funnel shapes to catch the marble as it drops and guide it into the next track.
Add Obstacles
Get creative! Cut the bottom out of a paper cup to make a drop-tube, or build a loop-de-loop. Keep testing with the marble after every single addition.
The Grand Finale
Tape a paper cup at the very bottom of the wall to act as a catch basin. Drop your marble from the top and watch it travel through your entire kinetic sculpture!
Why It Works & Notes
This is a study in gravity, momentum, and friction. Kids learn how potential energy (the marble at the very top of the wall) is converted into kinetic energy (motion). If the track is too steep, the marble gains too much momentum and flies off the curve. If it's too flat, friction stops it.
CRITICAL: Only use blue painter's tape or washi tape for this project. Stronger tapes will pull the paint off your walls when it's time to clean up!