Build thrilling stunts and challenges with endless possibilities for kids ages 4 years and older.
Build thrilling stunts and challenges with endless possibilities for kids ages 4 years and older.

Marble Rush® Discovery Starter Set™ Slope Challenge

This Marble Rush® challenge explores the concept of slope and its relationship with speed. Sometimes marbles roll fast and other times they roll slow. Why is that? Let’s find out!
Marble Rush Discovery Starter Set Marble Rush Discovery Starter Set

Learn About Slope

Slope is a word for how steep or level the track is. A steep slope is angled towards the ground. A level slope is one that is flat and parallel with the ground. The slope can be changed by raising and lowering the start funnel.

What’s Needed:

  • Marble Rush® Discovery Starter Set™
  • Marbles
See Slope in Action
See Slope in Action

Slope Challenge!

  • Child building the Marble Rush Discovery Starter Set. Child building the Marble Rush Discovery Starter Set.
    Complete the construction set as illustrated and note how many pieces high the funnel and the end point are.
  • Marble is being dropped down the funnel. Marble is being dropped down the funnel.
    Drop a marble down the clear funnel to begin and watch how fast it rolls down the slope.
  • Arrow pointing to the pieces used to raise and lower the funnel piece. Arrow pointing to the pieces used to raise and lower the funnel piece.
    Add pieces to raise the funnel and notice how much faster the marble rolls. Remove pieces to see the marble roll slower.

Using Slope

Exploration 1: Speed Test

Adjust the track to increase the height of the start funnel and try different designs. Record the height of each design and its outcome.

  • Did increasing the height of the start point make the marble go faster or slower?
Discovery Starter Set shown with the funnel piece placed down low. Discovery Starter Set shown with the funnel piece placed down low.

Exploration 2: Mountain Climber

Create different track designs that go up and down like a roller coaster.

  • Do the marbles make it all the way to the end of the different designs?
Child rolling a marble down the path of the Marble Rush Discovery Starter Set. Child rolling a marble down the path of the Marble Rush Discovery Starter Set.

Marble Rush® Discovery Starter Set™ Build Options

The easy-to-follow build guide has different options for beginner level builds.

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the Tab or Shift + Tab key.