5.10.10

Marble Drop



For Hanukkah we bought a really big marble drop set at Toys R Us.  Without exaggerating it took us four hours to set it up.  It provided hours of entertainment- until a week later, one section of this large intricate, mechanical, battery opperated, moving maze- stopped dropping the balls into the next section.
We took it back, I got my money back and to this day the monkeys ask about it- I'm mean- I know.
There was simply no way I was going to give eight hours of my life to this thing.
So we made a FREE marble drop- a super easy, fun craft-
We used several toilet paper and paper towel rolls, an egg carton, packing tape and scissors.
We also used a glass door so as not to ruin the walls with the tape

 I explained the intricacies of an engineers and architects jobs and responsibility- so much so that my youngest monkey (pictured above) was reciting 'A good engineer always makes sure' while he dropped the marble before placing the tape. 
They monkeys added on several features (even since I took these photos) including a 'see through ledge' made out of tape that makes you think your ball is going to drop- but in fact takes it to another 'area'.
The ultimate drop has different number 'points' drawn onto the base of the egg carton and depending on where your ball lands you can add your points up. 

Questions to consider while creating: 
What materials (medium) are we using to create?
What are the genres of art that use recycled materials? ( Assemblage, Junk Art, Found Art, Up cycle) 
Could this be considered a sculpture? (yes- it is three dimensional art)

29 comments:

Stacey said...

Such a creative household and architects in the making:-). Happy Tuesday! xx

k said...

it is so great that you made your own, that's awesome :) and good engineers definitely always make sure! (my husband is one, haha)

C said...

this is so great! I really want to make one of these for the kids I babysit, they'd love it, cool idea :-)

jeanette from everton terrace said...

Bravo! This is great and probably better than the store bought one because they learned they can do it themselves. I love thrifty creativity. Going to send this idea to my cousin who has two little boys who are always looking for this kind of fun project.

mermaid gallery said...

looks like a heck of a lot of fun ....I'm sure they can do it for hours....Well done!

Unknown said...

super creative!

PS - another GIVE-AWAY going on tomorrow!

*kiss kiss*
Erika
~Tiptoe Butterfly~

Lenore @ Lather. Write. Repeat. said...

Very cool idea R! I love that you just did it yourself!

XO
Lenore

Anonymous said...

Oh wow! Very creativ :)
xx, Alice from bells and whistles

Nicki said...

Aww, this must've been such a fun learning experience for your son!

Jude said...

Aw, I love the little one reciting that line :) I'm sure this was a much more fun experience and left more an impression that the mass-produced piece ever would! Budding engineers or architects, for sure.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like the homemade alternative is not only cheaper but much more creative and interesting!

Mama Gone Green said...

good work! love it!

tulpen said...

What a cool idea. Something I'm sure my HUSBAND would love to do with the kids.

Unknown said...

how fun and creative!! I love it!!!
x

Pat Tillett said...

toilet paper and paper towel cardboard rolls are the best toys every invented (by kids)...

christine, just bella said...

It looks like you have a future engineer on your hands!! Love it!

Thanks for you sweet comment on my blog, so lovely to "meet" you too!
:) Christine

Faiza said...

love to hear of the many uses for paper towel rolls and egg cartons! fantastic!

Clair said...

Your boys designed it,
built it,
added to it,
AND
know they can FIX it.
Lucky boys to have such a creative mom!

3 hungry tummies said...

Genius! Didn't we all make our own toys back then? Just so much more fun I reckon!

Phoenix said...

Awesome idea. I think playing with kids is one way to keep adults eternally young. :) All I want is a box of Lego's...

essbesee said...

so coooool! my monkeys would love this and I've been saving toilet paper/paper towel rolls for a while now not knowing how we'd use them.

RD said...

One of my favorite toys around that age was similar, a gift from an aunt. It had red marbles, and tracks of wood with a groove for the marble to travel, along with a few joints to direct the marble this way or that... But it was most fun when I would pull in everyday objects like books or set it up on the counter with a big drop... Lovely to be reminded of this... xo bb

Style, She Wrote said...

What a fun creative way to learn! Simply brilliant. xo style, she wrote

BonBon Rose Girls Kristin said...

Holy creativity batman!

Valarie said...

How very much fun and very inventive. I'll have to show "O" this. He will just love it. Enjoy marble dropping.

Cheryl said...

I love your toilet roll marble run. Lots more fun for everyone. Setting up and the playing stages. I know my children would love to do this. I'm going to fish some materials out of the recycling bin this weekend. Thanks for sharing.

Kelly Casanova said...

Cool, I want to try this, I saw a really great one on Youtube one time that ran all over the house.

Cashon&Co said...

love this. smart little boys! isn't it fun to see them use their imagination?

Laura said...

I love that you put it on the door with tape. That makes it easier for a kid to do all the work unlike mine where I had to use the glue and sort of be the doer of the project. I love that both your kids and mine made it into a point system game. So fun. We will make lots more of these type things in our lives. Thanks for sharing your post with me. I am finding my son so he can take a look at what another kid did with the same idea. I am sure he will love it.

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