If you want to have some marble fun, see the SCCLD STEAM Club-Marble Fun video. To see additional STEAM videos, go to Kids' STEAM Club.
These four activities are featured on the STEAM Club-Marble Fun video:
Marble Run-Make a maze and/or build a big marble run ramp!
Marble Momentum-See how energy can move through four marbles to move the fifth marble!
Marble Roller Coaster-Learn how to make a loop-de-loop roller coaster with pipe insulation.
Simple Rube Goldberg Machine-Create a chain reaction to complete a task!
Learn a little about gravity, momentum, potential energy, kinetic energy, and friction as while working on these projects.
Here are some supplies you may want to use:
Marble Run-Marble, cardboard boxes with sides, craft sticks, Playdough, paper towel tubes, glue, tape
Marble Momentum-7 marbles, 2 yard sticks
Marble Roller Coaster-Pipe insulation cut in half (so marble can easily roll) or cardstock paper, marble, painter's tape, duct tape, plastic cup
Simple Rube Goldberg Machine-Small toy car, dominoes, tennis ball, rubber ball, golf ball, hot wheels track, train track, books (to make ramps), wooden blocks, bell, aluminum foil, plastic containers, soup cans, batteries, Legos, bowl, cup, milk carton, string
Use whatever materials you can find! There is no right or wrong way to make these projects.
To learn a little about Rube Goldberg machines, see the following books:
Just Like Rube Goldberg-The Incredible True Story of the Man Behind the Machines by Sarah Aronson
Rube Goldberg was a real cartoonist who got really, really famous by inventing a whole lot of crazy, brilliant, impractical, funny stuff.
Rube Goldberg's Simple Normal Humdrum School Day by Jennifer George
Follows a young Rube Goldberg from morning until night as he uses one complicated invention after another to "simplify" his life.
Build Your Own Chain Reaction Machines-How to Make Crazy Contraptions Using Everyday Stuff by Paul Long
This entertaining and instructive book by mechanical engineer and educator Paul Long gives step-by-step instructions for making low-tech devices using everyday objects in inspired and ingenious ways. This may be a little advanced for beginners.
For books with other experiments, check out these books:
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Experiments with Motion by Susan Heinrichs Gray
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What Are Forces and Motion? by Richard Spilsbury
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Science Experiments with Gravity and Motion by Alex Kuskowski
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Experiments with Friction by Salvatore Tocci
