Monday, March 29, 2010

Marble Run



My daughter has been faithfully helping me save the paper towel rolls for probably the last year.  We were going to use them to make a cardboard castle but somewhere along the way lost our motivation (okay maybe it was just me . . . ).  But when I saw this I knew just what to do with all those paper towel tubes.

Make a marble run.


We gathered some paper towel tubes, some scissors and magnets.


I cut widows into the tubes while my daughter stayed busy decorating them.


Apply some magnetic strips . . .


And you're ready to set up your marble run and have some fun.  Arrange the tubes on your refrigerator doors and experiment to see which arrangement works best.  The lighter the marble and the stronger the magnet the better off you'll be. Make sure you put a box a the bottom to catch your marbles.

What a great rainy day activity . . .





15 comments:

  1. I saw this idea too and have a bunch of tubes saved but I don't have a magnetic fridge to put it on so I have to come up with something else. I would love to see pics of yours.

    http://spottedsmiles.blogspot.com

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  2. Great idea! I'll have to start stock-piling my tubes instead of just tossing them in the recycle bin...my boys will love it.

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  3. I liked your idea and we did with my daughter as well. Please see the link below
    http://melisligunler.blogspot.com/2010/09/duyusalbilye-oyunu-marbel-game.html

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  4. That is fantastic. It's rainy today, my son and I are going hunting throughout the house for tubes...

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  5. Okay, the magnets on them is totally awesome.

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  6. wonderful! we also made ​​a track like that, long ago.

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  7. Great Amy!
    I´m happy for following to you.
    I´m Brazilian. Please, excuse me my poor english, ok?
    Kisses in your heart!
    Follow my Blog:
    http://baudaarteira.blogspot.com/
    Bye!

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  8. Amy, I know I'm coming late to this party, but I've been looking for that magnet strip EVERYWHERE. Would you share where to find it??

    Thanks!!

    Shana

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    Replies
    1. You can get a roll of magnets most places, Walmart, JoAnn's, Michael's. I'm sure if you asked someone at the store they could point you in the right direction.

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  9. Amy, thanks for the help! I was able to find them at Michael's (normally I avoid Michael's like the plauge - too overwhelming, LOL!). But I had tried both Target and Walmart to no avial. Thanks again for the tip!

    S

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  10. My grandson and I had been saving paper towel and tp rolls for several weeks but we didn't have a definite plan yet. We knew we wanted to build some kind of contraption for his marbles to run through. When they came to visit last week, we did a google search for "marbles and paper towel rolls." Your idea on Pinterest was one of the 1st we spotted. (Thanks!) Here is one-minute video showing the process and successful results! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-8iS6Tples&feature=youtu.be

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    Replies
    1. Karen I loved the video! What a fun grandma you are and what lucky grandchildren to have you

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  11. Forgot to mention...we didn't have magnet strips either (and didn't have time to go buy them) but duct tape is always a good alternative to most anything! LOL

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