Instructions for Make a Marble Run Activity

Guidance
Create your very own marble run, from paper! Print out our cleverly-designed templates then
cut and assemble each part before letting your imagination run wild! Use as many or as few
parts in your track as you dare! Get creative and solve problems as you go. Can you build a
marble run that will stand up by itself? Can you make your marble travel through the whole
track? What is the most complicated yet sturdy marble run you can make?
Read the instructions below for each of the 15 parts that make up this marble run before
starting to assemble and test your own creation!

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 Make a Marble Run Activity
You will need:

• Some marbles • Some glue

• A pair of scissors
• A set of templates (at least four copies of
each page, except the sign) for:
1. Funnel 6. Long 45° 9. Small Track 13. Ring End
Support
2. Catcher 10. Small 180° 14. Spacer
Beam
Turn
3. Long Girder 15. Sign
7. Small
11. Large 180°
4. Short Girder Support
Turn
5. 45° Support 8. Long Track
12. 90° Turn
Beam

First, cut out the templates. Some pages have multiple templates of
different parts so cut along the solid black lines to separate them.
Multiple print-outs will likely be required for you to make a marble
run; the larger and more complex marble runs will need many paper
copies of the main track parts (the girders, long tracks and turns).
Cut carefully along the solid black lines around the outside of each
template, being careful not to cut off any tabs or cut through any
dotted or dashed lines.
Now, fold all of the foldlines’. The dotted lines fold down (a ‘hill fold’)
and the ‘dotted and dashed’ lines fold up (a ‘valley fold’).

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 Make a Marble Run Activity

1 Funnel
Funnels lead your marble into their centre before
dropping the marble through the hole. Funnels
are a great way to slow down the marble’s
journey through your marble run, as well as
acting as a great landing spot for any daring
marble leaps! You could even put one at the top of
your marble run as a starting place and have the
hole above a piece of sloped track.
How to Assemble:
1. Take the larger funnel template. Create the concave shape by curving the
paper and gluing the largest tab behind the paper on the other side.
2. Now, work around the top of the funnel, gluing the tabs underneath to make
the upright wall section.
3. Use the smaller template as the second section of the funnel wall.
4. When you have finished, there will be two flaps with + signs nearby. These
are for joining the funnel to other parts of the marble run, such as a long
track (not necessary if using it as a starting place).

2 Catcher
Catchers gently lead from a flat space into a track
piece, such a long track or a turn. They can also
be used with funnels or round-ended pieces to
allow access back into a track. Attach a catcher
to one end of the long track piece at the start of
your marble run; attach another catcher at the
How to Assemble: bottom to finish your marble’s journey!

1. Fold the template.

2. Two of the lines are curved so bend each section slowly to create the shape.
3. Use the two tabs at the end to attach the catcher to the track. (You may
wish to use a small support below the catcher.)

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 Make a Marble Run Activity

3 Long Girder
Long girders are necessary for the structure of
your marble run and they can be used either
vertically or horizontally. Use the tabs at each
end to join girders together to make a long
straight section, or at right angles to create a
corner of a frame. Try starting with a square-
shaped frame. Then connect it to more girders
to add height. Make each corner stronger and
sturdier by attaching a 45° support beam.
How to Assemble:
1. Cut along the solid black line to split the
two long girder templates on the template
sheet.
2. Use a ruler to fold along the fold lines (it
may be easier to fold up first and then
back).
3. Glue along the longest tab to make a long
thin cuboid shape.
4. When you have finished, there will be two
flaps with + signs at either end. These are
for joining the girder to other parts of the
marble run.
5. Repeat Steps 2 and 3 with the other
template to make a second long girder (a
minimum of eight will be needed to make
your marble run).

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 Make a Marble Run Activity

Short Girder
4
Short girders can be used in the main structure
of the marble run. They can support more weight
than the long girders.

How to Assemble:
1. Cut out the two short girder templates on the template sheet. For each one,
use a ruler to fold along the fold lines (it may be easier to fold up first and
then back).
2. Glue along the longest tab to make a cuboid shape.
3. When you have finished, there will be two flaps with + signs at either end.
These are for joining the girder to other parts of the marble run.
4. Repeat Steps 1 and 2 with the other template to make a second short girder.
You may need to use more short girders in your marble run.

5 45° Support Beam

45° support beams are useful for strengthening
the structure. They can be used in the corners of a
frame, attached to short or long girders.
How to Assemble:
1. Cut out the 45° support beam templates on the template
sheet. For each one, use a ruler to fold along the fold lines
(it may be easier to fold up first and then back).
2. Glue along the longest tab.
3. When you have finished, there will be two flaps with +
signs at either end. These are for joining the support beam
to other parts of the marble run, such as girders, as shown.
4. Repeat Steps 1 and 2 with the other template to make a
second 45° support beam.

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 Make a Marble Run Activity

6 Long 45° Support Beam

Longer 45° support beams can be used to connect
and strengthen further away sections of girder.
They can also be useful for holding up overhangs
or track parts and to make a strong foundation
for the main upright sections of your structure.

How to Assemble:
1. Cut out the longer 45° support beam templates on the template sheet. For
each one, use a ruler to fold along the fold lines (it may be easier to fold up
first and then back).
2. Glue along the longest tab.
3. When you have finished, there will be two flaps with + signs at either end.
These are for joining the support beam to other parts of the marble run,
such as girders, as shown.
4. Repeat Steps 1 and 2 with the other template to make a second longer 45°
support beam.

7 Small Support

Small supports can be added to any part of the

girders. The track can rest upon them.

How to Assemble:
1. Fold the template and glue the small tab underneath the
shape with the ‘Twinkl’ logo.
2. When you have finished, there will be two flaps with + signs
at either end. Flip the shape over so that the long rectangular
face is upwards, ready for use.
3. Glue the two flaps to either side of the girder, as required.
These small supports are ideal to be used where there is a
track, spiral or funnel that needs supporting from underneath.

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 Make a Marble Run Activity

8 Long Track
Long tracks are channels for your marbles
to run along. They can be connected in line
to make longer tracks or connected to turns
to make your marbles change direction or
even spiral! You can also attach funnels,
ring ends or catchers to them!
Top Tip: As you begin to make your marble run and add track, start at the
bottom and test each section with a marble as you go. Use sticky tack to
attach your tracks to your girder structure, making sure each long track slopes
downwards. Check whether the track needs more support underneath from a
girder or small support piece. When you are happy that your track carries the
marble to the bottom, glue the track to the girder.
How to Assemble:
1. Fold the template.
2. Glue the four tabs along the top to the corresponding flap on the other side
to give the channel strength; your marble will travel along the inside.
3. When you have finished, there will be two flaps with + signs at either end.
These can be used to connect the track part to more track, or the funnel,
ring end, turns or catchers.

9 Small Track

Small tracks, like long tracks, are for your

marble to run along. A small track can
be used at a steeper angle to speed up the
movement of the marble, such as before
How to Assemble: entering a spiral or funnel..
1. Fold the template.
2. Glue the two tabs along the top to the corresponding flap on the other side
to give the channel strength; your marble will travel along the inside.
3. When you have finished, there will be two flaps with + signs at either end.
These can be used to connect the track part to more track, or the funnel,
ring end, turns or catchers.

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 Make a Marble Run Activity

10 Small 180° Turn

Add this section to the end of a long track to
make the marble change direction in a faster way
(compared to the large 180° turn). You can add
several of these together to make a small spiral.
Make sure that the turns are supported by a
girder or several small supports to stop the track
sagging.
How to Assemble:
1. Fold the template.
2. Start at one end of the template. Glue each of the three tabs to the inside of
the next section. The model will begin to curl.

Large 180° Turn

11
Add this section to your marble track to make
the marble change direction in a slower way
(compared to the small 180° turn). You can add
several of these together to make a large spiral.
Make sure that the turns are supported by a
girder or several small supports to stop the track
sagging.
How to Assemble:
1. Fold the template.
2. Start at one end of the template, gluing the row of tabs to the inside of the
next section. The model will begin to curl. Then it can be attached to a track
or another turn.

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 Make a Marble Run Activity

12 90° Turn
Add a curve to your marble track by including
one or more 90° turns. You can add several of
these together to make a spiral.
How to Assemble:
1. Fold the template.
2. Start at one end of the template, gluing the
row of tabs to the inside of the next section.
The model will begin to curl. Then it can be
attached to a track or another turn.

13 Ring End

Using a ring end at the end of a track will stop

the marble and make it drop onto a different
track or funnel.

How to Assemble:
1. Fold the template and first glue the smaller tab
to the side showing the + signs.
2. Next, curve the long section over and glue it to
the other side to create a ring shape.

14 Spacer

Spacers can be used to separate two sections

of track. For example, if one track runs over or
across another, then the spacer can be added in to
reduce sagging.
How to Assemble:
1. Fold the template and glue the tab to the other
side.

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 Make a Marble Run Activity

15 Sign
You can add a personalised sign to
your marble run, using this template.
Remember to decorate the central
rectangle before you assemble the
template.

How to Assemble:
1. Fold the template. The two tabs either side fold up but all other folds should
be hill folds (folding down).
2. Start at one end of the template. Glue each of the three tabs to the inside of
the next section. The model will begin to curl.
3. Then bend the supports and glue the two
larger tabs to the back of the sign, as shown.
4. Turn your sign around and then glue the
tabs either side of a horizontal girder.

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