All play ideasConker ramp races

Conker ramp races

Build ramps from books and baking trays and find out what makes a conker roll furthest.

Age 4 to 6 · Reception to Year 2Age 7 to 9 · Year 3 to Year 4IndoorOutdoorForces week

Change one thing at a time and you are doing proper science, even in your socks in the hallway.

What you need

  • Conkers, marbles or small balls
  • A baking tray, tea tray or piece of card
  • Books to raise the ramp
  • Tape measure or a shoe to measure with

How to do it

  1. 1

    Prop one end of the tray on a book to make a gentle ramp.

  2. 2

    Roll a conker from the top and mark where it stops.

  3. 3

    Add a second book, roll again from the same place and measure.

  4. 4

    Keep adding books, recording each distance, and predict the next one.

  5. 5

    Try a marble and a scrunched paper ball and talk about why they differ.

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