We've done a lot of art exploration here at kidmade so I thought we would mix it up with a creativity challenge for the engineer in all of us.
This month's challenge is to engineer the longest marble ramp you can using only cardboard and duct tape. Feel free to use chairs, tables, railings and ladders to support your ramp and decorate to your hearts content with paint,markers and fiddly-bits. Your ramp can be a straight run or zig-zag down a wall. We're looking for total ramp length.
Start digging through your recycling bin and saving boxes, cylinders and tubes. Wrapping paper tubes are great for a nice long run and I've had luck calling the fabric store and asking them to save tubes from the bolts of fabric. Anything goes as long as it's cardboard and duct tape.
When you've finished your ramp; take a picture and send it to kidmadeATyahoo.com and include:
Your Name
Your Age
The Length of your Ramp
Some comments on your experience
A bit of inspiration, a couple of books and a link to my favorite wacky engineer Rube Goldberg.
Raceways: Having Fun with Ball and Tracksby Bernie Zubrowski
Adventures with a Cardboard Tubeby Harry Milgrom
Roll, Slope, and Slide: A Book About Ramps by Michael Dahl
Inclined Planes in My World by Joanne Randolph
For all of you that noticed the Part 1 in the challenge title we will be building on our ramp building skills in a future challenge. Happy Building.
this is such a way cool idea, my boys will love to do this
Posted by: ruby | July 09, 2008 at 09:30 AM
lovely site!
Posted by: amy | July 27, 2008 at 11:24 AM