Pool noodle marble run

Pool noodles aren't strictly for pool games any more – you can make lots of fun things out of a pool noodle. Try making this pool noodle marble run with your kids.

What you need:

• 1 pool noodle
• 1 shoebox
• 1 x A4 piece of white card stock
• black marker pen
• masking tape
• scissors
• marbles

Number of players:

Activity:

Cut the pool noodle in half lengthways. There should be a semi-circular channel running down the length of each half. That is your marble run.

Cut a rectangular shape out of the side of the shoebox, it should be wide enough to rest the two marble runs in side by side.

Now make your finish line.  Use your black marker pen to write, 'Finish!' on a piece of card stock. Rig it up as a finish line between two bamboo skewers and place it over the entrance to the shoe box.

If you have stairs, rest your marble runs along the stairs, with the shoebox at the bottom to catch the marbles.

If you don't have stairs, rest one end of the marble run on a table and the other on the shoebox. You will need a few chairs along the way to keep the noodles propped straight. You may need to experiment a bit with heights to get it right. This is a good problem solving activity for older children.

Once your marble run is ready, drop your marbles down the run and see who wins!

• Thanks to our sister company Kidspot Australia for creating the instructional video.