How To Make A Marble Roller Coaster

All you need are some recyclables and a handful of marbles. Make it as easy or complicated as your imagination wants. It is so fun to build a marble roller coaster and it is a perfect example of a STEM activity using basic supplies. Combine design and engineering for a STEM idea that will provide hours of fun and laughs! We love simple and hands-on STEM projects for kids!

All About Roller Coasters

Ever been on a roller coaster ride? It can be exhilarating or frightening, or maybe a bit of both!

A roller coaster is an amusement ride that uses some track with tight turns and steep hills, and sometimes, they even turn upside down! The first roller coasters are believed to have originated in Russia in the 16th century, built on hills made of ice.

The first roller coaster in America was opened on June 16, 1884, at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York. Known as a switchback railway, it was the invention of LaMarcus Thompson, traveled approximately six miles per hour, and cost a nickel to ride.

Design a roller coaster with tight turns and steep hills using cardboard tubes. Test it out with marbles and make adjustments as needed. It’s all part of the engineering design process!

Follow our instructions below or develop your own paper marble roller coaster. The best thing is this STEM project is easy to set up and inexpensive for kids!

Grab this FREE Engineering Challenge Calendar today!

Roller Coaster Project

Leftover cardboard? Check out more fun cardboard tube STEM projects!

Supplies:

Toilet paper rolls
Paper towel roll
Scissors
Masking tape
Marbles

Instructions:

STEP 1: Cut several toilet paper tubes in half.

STEP 2: Stand up your paper towel roll and tape it to the table. Attach two of your cut tubes to your paper towel roll ‘tower’.

STEP 3: Tape two toilet paper tubes together to make a smaller tower and attach it to the table and the roller coaster.

STEP 4: Stand up one toilet paper tube and attach to table, and use your remaining coaster pieces to connect all three of your ‘towers’.

STEP 5: You might need to put some smaller pieces of coaster ramp to keep the marble from falling off corners. Adjust as needed.

STEP 6: Drop a marble at the top of your coaster and have fun!

More Fun Things To Build

What Is STEM For Kids?

So you might ask, what does STEM actually stand for? STEM is science, technology, engineering, and math. The most important thing you can take away from this, is that STEM is for everyone!

Yes, kids of all ages can work on STEM projects and enjoy STEM lessons. STEM activities are great for group work, too!

STEM is everywhere! Just look around. The simple fact that STEM surrounds us is why it’s so important for kids to be a part of, use, and understand STEM.

Interested in STEM plus ART? Check out all our STEAM Activities!

From the buildings you see in town, the bridges that connect places, the computers we use, the software programs that go with them, and compasses for navigation, STEM is what makes it all possible.

Helpful STEM Resources To Get You Started

Here are a few resources that will help you introduce STEM more effectively to your kiddos or students and feel confident yourself when presenting materials. You’ll find helpful free printables throughout.

STEM Question For Reflection

These STEM questions for reflection are perfect to use with kiddos of all ages to talk about how the project went and what they might do differently next time around.

Use these questions for reflection with your kids after they have completed the STEM challenge to encourage discussion of results and critical thinking. Older kiddos can use these questions as a writing prompt for a STEM notebook. For younger kiddos, use the questions as a fun conversation!

What were some of the challenges you discovered along the way?
What worked well and what did not work well?
What part of your model or prototype do you really like? Explain why.
What part of your model or prototype needs improvement? Explain why.
What other materials would you like to use if you could do this challenge again?
What would you do differently next time?
What parts of your model or prototype are similar to the real world version?

Printable STEM Activities Pack For Kids

80+ Doable Engineering Projects in one convenient pack!

Full instructions with sample images
Activity-specific instruction sheets
Data Collection Sheets
Questions for Reflection
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Bridge Building Cards: Explore different types of bridges to build your own.
Paper Chain STEM Challenge: Who can make the longest chain? Great icebreaker or quick challenge!
3 Little Pigs Architectural Pack: Design a house that won’t blow away!
Great marshmallow challenge: A classic challenge kids love!
Real-world STEM challenge lesson but don’t know where to start? Our easy-to-follow template shows the steps!
What’s the difference between a scientist and an engineer?
Crossword and word search with engineering vocabulary.
Engineering vocabulary cards
Design a one-of-a-kind invention and write about it with this 5-page activity!