Maybe a Maze
As a child, I loved playing with the little circular plastic ball mazes that I found in Christmas crackers and party gift bags.
I now know that playing with ball mazes develops hand-eye co-ordination and that making them is a great STEM activity promoting the development of a number of skills including designing, constructing, problem-solving, testing, and evaluating .
Invite your child to make their own maze out of recycled and household materials using an open-ended question. Then stand back and allow them to follow their own interests as they engage with the materials.
As they create, ask open-ended questions that encourage further exploration and skill development.
e.g.
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Tell me about what you are making.
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I wonder what this bit does?
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Why did you use tubes instead of sticks?
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What was the most challenging part to make?
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I wonder if you could make a maze a different way?
But most of all, be amazed at your child's creativity and problem-solving skills.
Maybe they'll make a maze and maybe not!
Suggested list of resources:
(This is just a suggested list of resources, you do not have to use everything on it. Be creative and use what you have.)
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Recycled boxes and cardboard tubes e.g. kitchen towel tubes
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Pipe cleaners, paper straws, lollipop sticks
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Twigs
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Lego
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Objects to roll e.g. pompoms, marbles, ping pong balls, play-dough, small pebbles etc.
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Paper, card, construction paper
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Pens, pencils, crayons, ruler
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Scissors, white craft glue, tape
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An open-ended question that invites exploration e.g. "I wonder if/how I could make a maze?"
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