It took me a while to come up with an idea for a simple machine. I remembered having a Mouse Trap Game when I was a kid. I was fascinated that the ball could roll through the entire maze to the end. That game was my inspiration. It was a little harder to get to work than I thought it would be, but I finally got it just right and it worked! Hooray!!! I am proud that I was able to make this! You can make one too with things that you already may have. I had fun making it!

Step 1: Supplies Needed

Plastic bathroom cups

small scissors

scotch tape

small shallow bowl

plastic sticks

marbles

assorted colors of Play Doh

jelly roll pan

Step 2: Tape the Cups

Plan the arrangement of the cups and tape them together.

Step 3: Cut the Holes

Cut holes in the cups where you want the ball to drop through.

Step 4: Add Play Doh

Place Play Doh under the cups to secure them and to make the cups the height you would like them to be.

Step 5: Place Play Doh Inside the Cups

Place a small amount of Play Doh in the cups that will hold the plastic sticks in place.

Step 6: Add the Sticks

Push the plastic sticks into the Play Doh and secure in place.

Step 7: Test the Maze

Add the bowl to the end of the maze. Test out the maze dropping the marble into the top cup. If it doesn't make it all of the way down to the bowl, fix the problem by cutting a hole in a cup a little bigger or adding more Play Doh until it works well. You can also press some cut pieces of a cup to make a smooth surface for the cup to fall on.

Step 8: It Works!

Hooray! It works! I feel very accomplished and satisfied! I hope you will try to make a ball maze similar to this one! The kids in your life would also have so much fun making one of these too!!!

Introduction: Make a Ball Maze