Pinball Marble Run Challenge

Essential Question: Can my group successfully plan, design and build a paper plate pinball/marble run using only the provided materials?

Goal: Move the marble from one end of the plate to the other, having the marble travel through at least three obstacles.

My teamwork/Communication Goal for this Challenge:  

Have everyone feel included and engage in what we are doing. Also give everyone a chance to talk. Plus, Have fun!

Step 1: Brainstorm

Instructions:Look at the supplies table. You may NOT take anything from the table yet.  

You may only take ONE plate and ONE marble. There are no other requirements. You will have 15 minutes to build.

What Ideas Do You Have?

We we can build a wall out of popsicle sticks, Make a mushroom obstacle with the toilet paper tubes and cut holes in toilet paper or plate to have certain “point” holes.

Your group has shared all of your ideas. Before you can start building, what is your actual plan?

• What Will Your Marble Run Look Like? 
• 
• How Will You Make Sure All Members of the Group Are Included in the Building Process?

We will have team roles and do a check in every once in a while to make sure everyone is on the same page and feels involved/included.

Step 2:Build and Test

Here Are a Few Photos of the Building Process:

I could not upload the rest of the photos.

 Here is A Photo of My Final Product:

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Step 3:Reflection

What Was Comfortable About the Challenge/Teamwork?

It was easy because we had a lot of great ideas and I think we worked pretty well together. Also our marble almost made it into the marble hole!

What Was Difficult About the Challenge/Teamwork?

It was kind of hard to put together our idea,physically.Also everything kept on falling apart which was very stressful. Lastly, getting a good angle of the pictures we were taking was very difficult.

How Did the Teamwork Rubric Help Your Group Today?

It helped because we knew exactly what we needed to do and if we did something wrong we would know what we did wrong and what the consequence would be.

Is There Anything You Would Change About the Teamwork Rubric After Going Through This Challenge?

No, I think its great and very useful/helpful.

How Did You Support Your Team Today?

I helped by taking the pictures and documenting our experience. Plus I helped tape together popsicle sticks for one of the obstacles that we did and it was surprisingly very challenging to tape it together and hold it up on a paper plate but, we problem solved by having a toilet paper tube hold it up.

What Might You Do Differently During Our Next Team Challenge?

I would probably do a different job in the group next time, not because it was bad, just because I want to try something different! Also, I would make sure everything was more sturdy and put together.

What Makes A Team Work?

Why is it important to develop the capacity to work as a member of a team?

It is important because this is a lifelong skill we are going to need and it’s important to start when we are younger so that we have more practice.

What areas of teamwork do you find easiest and why?

I find it easy because we (usually) all have great ideas and we never really have a time when we get stuck minus having a question or two. (I think it also depends on the team and who I’m working with) I find this easy because there really is no right or wrong ideas that you can have.

What areas of teamwork do you find most challenging and why?

I find compromising and having everyone’s thoughts and opinions heard very challenging. It’s also challenging to have everyone participating and staying focused. Lastly having everyone feel involved and included is VERY challenging. It is challenging because especially sometimes when there are no teachers around and Im the only one in the group trying to do all the things I mentioned above, it can get hard.

What difference does it make if you are able to play a role in the development of assessment tools?

We can then know what we have to work on and do to get good grades and just because it’s the right thing to do. Also if someone isn’t behaving they can know what they are doing wrong because there are guidelines instead of getting in trouble and not knowing that you couldn’t do something.

In what way(s) do you connect this work to our Core Values: Wonder, Empathy & Tikkun Olam

Empathy: I am kind to my group mates and respectful to everyone’s thoughts and opinions.
Wonder: I can ask questions when confused and have a sense of curiosity.
Tikkun Olam(Repairing the World): I can maybe do a project with my group to help others in the world or just be kind to my peers so that there will be peace. That can also inspire other people to be kind to each other and make peace as well.