Activity 5:

Making and installing a track made from nails on the bottom level of the marble-slide machine

Category:

Construction / Mechanics

Target group

3 to 6-year old girls and boys in kindergarten.

Goals

Transfer of previous experiences with nail tracks (see activity 3).

Completion of the marble-slide in team work.

Where?

Marble carpet in the group area; workshop.

How long?

Guided play for approx. 30 minutes, afterwards free play phase.

What?

Installing a nail track on the bottom level.

Preparation

Marble-slide machine.

Wooden board for the bottom level.

Nails, hammers, pens.

Steps

The children try out the marble-slide machine.

They decide on how they want the last level to be.

They draw the nail track on the board. They pay attention to smooth thresholds.

They hammer the nails into the board, try the tracks out and correct them.

They install the board on the bottom level of the machine.

They try out the complete marble-slide machine.

Scientific explanation

Possible variation 

The children install the individual levels directly after the respective activities into the machine, if possible without help. This requires considerable technical skills and craftsmanship, since the machine needs to be stable and childproof.

Note!

The board must be sloped enough, so that the marble rolls down. At the threshold from one level to another shorter nails have to be used to make the board fit.

Source