Build-A-Track
Here's What To Do
Find a small toy that can move along a track, like a toy car, marble, or small ball.
Gather materials to build your track, such as cardboard, tubes, blocks, pillows, or kitchen items, and use things like tape or string to connect the pieces.
Make a path for your toy to follow and add fun features like ramps or turns.
Test your track by pushing the toy along it, then fix any spots where it gets stuck and keep experimenting until it works smoothly.
Put PEER Into Action
Pause:
- Explain the activity and ask your child to help collect building materials from around the house. Got everything? You’re ready to start!
Engage:
- "What kinds of things should we use to build our race track? Tell me your ideas and I can help you cut and tape cardboard together."
- "What kind of obstacles could we put on our track? Maybe something the car has to roll over or jump over?"
Encourage:
- If the car gets stuck or won’t move through part of your track, ask, “how could we change the ramp to make it go?” Let your child experiment to find the solution!
- "What do you think you could change about that ramp so that the car would have enough force to make it over the jump?"
Reflect:
- What were some things we did today to test and make our track better?
Not quite ready?
Focus on experimenting with a ramp- how can you change the ramp to make the car go farther and faster?
Ready for more?
Make more elaborate car race tracks (search 'cardboard toy car race track,' 'cardboard toy car obstacle course' and 'cardboard toy car skate park' on the Internet for inspiration)
As your child masters this skill...
They will understand how they can change different variables to control objects' movements