THE MARBLE RUN
Challenge your class to work in groups of two, three but no more than four, to use the materials supplied (sheet of card stock, strips of paper, adhesive tape, and a marble) to build a marble run.
Challenge my students to:
- Make a vertical marble run, then,
- change the design of the marble run to take 20 seconds for the marble to complete its travels.
Simple enough.
This past week, I saw the marble run activity at its ABSOLUTE best in my wife's 5th grade classroom........when I went through the door, groups of kids sitting on tables, on the floor, on cushions were making THE best marble runs I'd ever seen! The atmosphere was magical! The kids were engaged, highly motivated, coming up with design ideas, measuring, sticking, constructing, reconstructing. Jeannine was highly visible yet not getting in the way of any group's endeavors. The learning was, well, scientific, mathematical, creative, reflective, focused, positive and communal.
This past week, I saw the marble run activity at its ABSOLUTE best in my wife's 5th grade classroom........when I went through the door, groups of kids sitting on tables, on the floor, on cushions were making THE best marble runs I'd ever seen! The atmosphere was magical! The kids were engaged, highly motivated, coming up with design ideas, measuring, sticking, constructing, reconstructing. Jeannine was highly visible yet not getting in the way of any group's endeavors. The learning was, well, scientific, mathematical, creative, reflective, focused, positive and communal.
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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