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How to Make Marble Runs & Games

A marble run, a set of cardboard tubes your child can arrange in myriad designs and then send marbles shooting through, is fun and educational. Designing and decorating the tubes can be as entertaining as the run itself. Adding magnets provides a toy your child can enjoy on the refrigerator door while you work in the kitchen.

Things You'll Need

10 cardboard paper towel or toilet paper tubes
20 small magnets
Hot glue gun
Hot glue sticks
Craft knife
Scissors
Paint
Paint brushes
Small box
Glitter or feathers
Art supplies

Instructions

- 1
  Cut a 1-inch triangle from each end of each cardboard tube. The triangles should be directly opposite each other with the narrow points toward the middle. Use the craft knife to cut a window between each set of triangles. Each window should be about as wide as the bottom of the triangles and 2 inches long.
- 2
  Attach a magnet to each end of each tube with hot glue so that when attached to the refrigerator the triangles and window will face the ceiling.
- 3
  Remove the top flaps from the small box.
- 4
  Instruct your child to paint and decorate the tubes and the small box. Be sure leave the magnets clear. After painting each tube, attach glitter or feathers with glue. Allow to dry thoroughly.
- 5
  Arrange the tubes on the refrigerator door so that the one cut-out triangle is directly above the next one, all facing the ceiling. Set the small box on the floor near the end of the last tube.
- 6
  Instruct your child to drop a marble into the first tube. If the tube isn't successful, adjust the tubes as necessary.

Educational Toys