Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Give each of your contestants two paper towel rolls, three toilet paper rolls, one stick or dowel, one paper plate and two foam blocks. These are the uniform materials your contestants should start with, but they can use as much of the other materials (such as glue or tin foil) as they would like.
Roll the empty paper towel rolls and toilet paper in tin foil.
Plug in your hot glue gun with a glue stick loaded and allow the glue to warm up.
Stick your dowel in the middle of one block of foam. Use any size and type of foam. This is the structural base of your rollercoaster.
Cut a hole through the top and bottom of one of your toilet paper rolls with a pair of scissors. Make your cuts about 1/2 inch from the end of the roll. Slip the roll on top of the dowel. Poke the dowel through the bottom hole and then through the top hole. The roll should stay put at the top of the dowel. If it does not, secure it to the dowel with hot glue.
Tape or glue the remaining rolls like "steps" of a staircase. Glue the second roll to the first roll (the roll that is attached to the dowel). Line the circumference of the end of the second roll and press it into the middle of the first roll. Do this until you reach the bottom. Experiment with both paper towel rolls and toilet paper rolls. Experiment gluing them horizontally and vertically. Ensure there is an open path for your marble to roll.
Place a foam block beneath your final roll. You may need to cut the foam, depending on the construction of your rollercoaster. Place a paper plate at the end of the rollercoaster to "catch" the marbles.
Add embellishments to your rollercoaster by cutting out shapes and designs from construction paper. Glue them to the outside of the rolls.
Test your rollercoaster by inserting marbles into the side of the first roll at the top of the rollercoaster. The person who successfully launches five marbles in the least amount of time wins.