All Activities
Grades 1–5

The Clixo Ball Run

Design and build a ball run using Clixo pieces, exploring concepts of physics, engineering, and creativity.

Download PDF Grades 1–5
The Clixo Ball Run
Download PDF

Activity Overview

Students will design and build a ball run using Clixo pieces, exploring concepts of physics, engineering, and creativity. The activity encourages problem-solving, collaboration, and understanding of gravity, momentum, and angles.

Topics: Collaborative Play, Storytelling, The World Around Us, Accessibility and Inclusion

Grade: 1-2, 3-5
Video runtime: 40 secs

Objective

Students will design and build a ball run using Clixo pieces, exploring concepts of physics, engineering, and creativity. The activity encourages problem-solving, collaboration, and understanding of gravity, momentum, and angles.

The Clixo Ball Run

Total Time

1–2 hours

Grade Level

Grades 1–5

Group Size

Small groups

Topics

Collaboration

Skills

  • Understand basic principles of physics, including gravity, force, and momentum.
  • Develop engineering skills by designing and constructing a functional ball run.
  • Encourage creativity and innovation in problem-solving.
  • Foster collaboration and teamwork among students.

Materials

Introduce

1. Introduction (15 minutes):

  • Discussion: Start with a brief discussion on what a ball run is and how gravity and angles affect the speed and direction of a ball. Explain that the objective is to create a ball run where the ball moves smoothly from start to finish without falling off.
  • Show Examples: If possible, show a video or images of different ball runs to inspire students.

2. Planning Phase (15-20 minutes):

  • Group Formation: Divide the students into small groups (3-4 students per group).
  • Brainstorming: Each group should brainstorm ideas for their ball run. Encourage them to think about what objects to connect their Clixo ball-run to (table, chairs, door, whiteboard), how the ball will travel from start to finish and how they can use different Clixo pieces to guide its path.
  • Sketching: Have students sketch their ball run design on paper. This plan will guide them during the building phase.

Build & Create

3. Building Phase (30-45 minutes):

  • Constructing the Ball Run: Groups will use Clixo pieces to construct their ball run based on their designs. They can adjust and modify their structures as needed.
  • Testing and Iteration: After constructing the initial run, students should test it by rolling a ball through. If the ball doesn’t make it to the end or falls off, encourage them to problem-solve and make adjustments to improve the run.

Share & Reflect

4. Group Presentations and Reflection (15-20 minutes):

  • Presentations: Each group will present their ball run to the class, explaining the design choices they made and any challenges they encountered.
  • Class Discussion: Facilitate a discussion on what worked well and what could be improved. Ask questions such as:
  • What did you learn about how angles affect the ball’s speed?
  • How did your team solve any problems that came up?
  • What would you do differently next time?

Extension Activities

Time Trials

Use a stopwatch to time how long it takes for the ball to travel through each group’s run. Discuss how different designs affect speed.

Design Challenges

Challenge students to modify their ball runs to make the ball go slower, faster, or travel a longer distance.

Real-World Connections

Discuss how the principles learned in this activity apply to real-world engineering, such as roller coasters or water slides.

Tips

  • Assessment – Participation: Observe students’ engagement during the activity and their ability to work collaboratively in their groups.
  • Assessment – Design and Construction: Evaluate the functionality and creativity of the ball run designs.
  • Assessment – Reflection: Assess students’ ability to articulate their learning during the presentation and class discussion.
  • Differentiation – For Younger Students (Grades 1-2): Simplify the activity by focusing on building a straight or slightly angled run, emphasizing the basics of gravity and motion.
  • Differentiation – For Older Students (Grades 4-5): Introduce more complex challenges, such as incorporating turns, loops, or multiple paths in the ball run.

Educational Standards

Download PDF

Looking for more activities?

Design Thinking

Build for the Silhouettes

Grades K–545 mins
STEAM

Conditional Logic with Clixo

Grades 3–545 mins
Storytelling

Sound Effects Lab: Reading Bear Snores On

Grades 1–230–45 mins
Collaboration

When and Then Building Challenge

Grades PreK–K10–15 mins
All Activities