Build your own paper plate marble roller coaster with supplies from around the house!
Here’s an engineering challenge for kids that is SOOO much fun to build and play with. Kids will be learning so much as they design and construct their marble roller coaster, but it feels like play! This project is perfect for a STEM class or just an afternoon at home.
Recommended Age: I would recommend this activity for age 10 and up, or age 5 and up with help.
This is the perfect STEM challenge for 5th – 8th grade students to do independently. My 12 year old (6th grade) LOVED this project.
Younger kids will enjoy this just as much, but may need some adult help to get it working properly.
This project was originally posted in September 2012 and updated in May 2024.
Paper plates make the perfect material for a marble roller coaster! Cut the rims off the plates and turn them upside down. This makes the perfect little marble track! You can cut the plates into sections of different lengths and create a twisting and turning track design.
Supplies Needed for a Paper Plate Marble Track:
- Paper plates
- Toilet paper rolls or paper towel rolls
- Hot glue
- Tape
- Scissors
- Optional – a base for your roller coaster, such as a large sheet of foam board
If you’re doing this activity with a group or class, you will definitely want to try out the paper plates ahead of time. Cheap white plates do not work because the rims are too flat. The fancy white cardboard type of paper plates are not a good option either.
I would recommend having a base for your marble roller coaster if possible! You can use a sheet of foam board or a large piece of cardboard. This will allow kids to glue the toilet paper rolls to the base, which will make the whole design much more sturdy.
How to Build a Marble Roller Coaster:
- Don’t make your slopes too steep! If the marble rolls too fast, it will fly off the sides of the track. It doesn’t take much slope at all to make the marble roll.
- Try building from the bottom up. We actually started at the top, but younger kids may benefit from starting at the bottom.
- Use tape to attach section of track.
- Hot glue the track to the toilet paper rolls. We also used tape in some places for reinforcement.
We built two tracks on our base! SOOOO cool.
We were super happy with how it turned out. It’s very fun to play with!
The photo below is our original paper plate marble track from 2012. You can see that we added extra paper plate rims to keep the marbles from falling off. That’s a great tip to show the kids!
Need more marble run activities for kids? We’ve got lots of ideas!
Use paper plates to make an awesome Spiral Marble Track. This DIY toy is so much fun.
The next time you get a large cardboard box, use it to make an Epic Marble Run! Entertainment for days.
If you’re looking for a unique way to build a marble run, these Marbles + Play Dough STEM Challenges are sooo much fun!
28 Comments
Ticia Sep 5, 2012
We did one with toilet paper and paper towel roll tubes, and that was a lot of fun. I could see this as being a lot of fun too.
sarahelisabeth Sep 5, 2012
We must try this. Our youngest found an old very simple plastic marble run which the older children had used. This has been good for a while but making something more complex will be good. I need to check if the paper plates I have are the right design! If not, onto collecting paper towel tubes.
Go Kid Yourself Sep 13, 2012
Awww, now that's just brilliant!!
Susan Case Sep 13, 2012
Great idea! Pinned it on my Recycle board.
Beth Sep 13, 2012
This is AWESOME!! What a great idea =)
Beth
Allison Sep 13, 2012
This is amazing! I am going to do it with my boys. We do have a wooden track, but I bet they will like this one better. Genius!
Allison Sep 14, 2012
By the way, I am featuring this tomorrow on The Sunday Showcase. I hope you stop by and link up again!
Sarah Sep 15, 2012
That's great! I'll be there!
Trisha @ Inspiration Laboratories Sep 13, 2012
This is great fun! I know my son would have a blast with it. :)
Rachelle | TinkerLab Sep 22, 2012
This is brilliant! Marble runs are so popular in our house and I know my kids will love this! Just pinned it :)
Hannah @ Making BoysMen Nov 24, 2012
Just discovered this on Pinterest, I know my boys would love it and I love it when we get to work together on a project that engages everyone. Have re pinned and am going to share on Facebook, thanks!
Oma Demmert Dec 17, 2012
Instead of pool noodles (which aren't available year round) try foam insulation from the plumbing supply section of Lowes/HomeDepot. Cut them in half like you did for pool noodle. retty cheam though not colorful. Use painter's tape or duct tape for color and joining.
Erika Feb 9, 2013
Um yeah, I tried this at home with my daughter and it only ended in upset and frustration! What a mess. It was too time consuming, too unsuccessful, and a waste of time. Couldn't get it to work with their lousy instructions, and as you can see the OP had to create bumpers to stop the marble from falling off the track. We had the same problem, but also it kept falling over too! Do not try at home unless you are EXTREMELY patient.
Sarah Feb 9, 2013
I'm sorry that the track did not work for you. I included the note about creating bumpers because that is what caused our track to be successful. We truly built the track in the picture, and it did work! The Family Fun Magazine version did not have a very steep slope at all, and so I'm sure their marble stayed on the track really well. We needed the bumpers because we built steeper slopes.
Nina Feb 28, 2013
Wow that's such a nice idea. Why buy one when you can build one yourself?
Jen Mar 2, 2013
This is brilliant. My 4yo loves marble runs. He has been since he was two. We bought the lovely wooden one. It was well worth the cost, as we buy only quality toys and I imagine we will save it for his kids. The one we bought involves so much creativity, teaches many skills and so much problem solving.
Alex Mar 14, 2013
Cool idea! I'm wondering whether I can combine the paper plate idea with the toilet roll run we just built this arvo... Will have to give it a try!
Winnie Shine Apr 19, 2013
This is really great idea! I shared this with others in my blog. Sorry for not posting your blog linkage at the beginning because I found this idea on FB where linkage is not provided. I had added back the linkage to my blog. Please accept my apologise!
http://shinekidscrafts.blogspot.hk/2013/04/paper-craft-for-kids-paper-plates.html
Sarah Apr 19, 2013
Thank you so much for adding the link, and apology accepted! I found where you probably saw it on facebook - someone made a collage using my photos and then shared it on FB with no link, which is actually stealing copyrighted material. Again, thanks for fixing it!
Michele aka Derbylea May 6, 2013
You can make a track similar to the pool noodle track by using pipe insulation that you buy at the hardware store. Split it completely in half with a razor blade and then use masking tape to hold it together. Its really easy for kids to do. We do it as a class project with my second graders every year.
Cindy deRosier Sep 17, 2013
I'm the Editorial Assistant for Fun Family Crafts and I wanted to let you know that we have featured your marble track! You can see it here:
http://funfamilycrafts.com/paper-plate-marble-track/
If you have other kid-friendly crafts, we'd love it if you would submit them. If you would like to display a featured button on your site, you can grab one from the right side bar of your post above. Thanks for a fun project idea!
Sharon Feb 15, 2014
I've just used cut in half pipe cladding fir an extreme marble run
SharonAnn Maxwell May 11, 2014
I have just spent a long time on your site getting ideas for crafts for older boys. Thank you for sharing! I have found many excellent and easy things to make. Bless you!
chloe May 19, 2014
the paper plate marble runner is good
chloe May 19, 2014
but you can make it bigger
lisa Jul 6, 2014
Yes you are missing out if you have not experienced glue dots. It's so clean and they are fairly strong. I love them.
Sarah Jul 6, 2014
We will have to get some and try them! Thanks for letting me know.
amy Mar 1, 2015
This is awesome! I am an elementary librarian looking for makerspace ideas and I'm going to try this next week! :) You rock!
Phoebe Runion Aug 7, 2016
What websites are for running a blog only? Like writing journals but we can use a different name?
Sonia Sep 20, 2016
You have some of the best ideas! and your pictures are great! I write curriculum for a small hands-on engineering museum in Minnesota, and I keep stumbling upon your pictures (they're also great!) and your posts whenever I search for other great ideas.
Thanks for all the hard work! I know what a huge extra step it is to collect so much "data" before, during and after a design build!
tonynghia Oct 11, 2018
Your post is very great. Hope you'll be sucessfull in your life!
multiplayer games on pc free
Tokuda Nov 12, 2018
Your article is very useful to me. Thank you!
free lego games for kids to play
Eve Webb Jun 4, 2024
School holidays start in 3 weeks (Perth, Australia) and it's promising to rain heavily for the first time in 8 months. My challenge to young grandchildren, to choose and build a toy all the older 6 can play with. I start early so I can check I have all the basic pieces. 8 year old has chosen the cardboard box marble run. As the two two year olds will need watching, the 6 year old suggested adapting for table tennis balls...bound to have some somewhere and that's a really thoughtful idea. Thankyou for all your wonderful ideas
Post a Comment