Lighthouse Initiative for Texas Classrooms

Roller Coasters

(Download the MS Word version of this document.)

Procedure

  1. Draw a simple roller coaster design that you plan to make with the tubing given. Realize your tubing is four feet long, which cannot be changed. Since the tubing is flexible, you will be allowed to twist or turn it whatever way you want.
  2. Try our your design and roll the marble on the tubing to see if it will go all the way to the end. Record your results.
  3. Modify your design and record your changes.
  4. Continue to modify until you can successfully have the marble complete your roller coaster.
  5. Share your final design with your class. Have the marble complete the ride.
  6. The class "judges" your design on a 1-10 scale.
  7. The design with the most points is awarded the gold metal, the next most points gets the silver and the third most gets the bronze.
  8. Choose the most creative design for a special award.
  9. Top winners in each class compete for the overall gold, silver, and bronze.
  10. Good luck and have fun.
[printer-friendly]