STEM Challenge: Slowing Down to Win!

This week, Year 6 pupils took part in an exciting STEM competition that put their problem-solving skills, creativity, and scientific understanding to the test. The challenge? To design and build a marble run that would keep a marble moving for the longest time possible, turning speed into a disadvantage for once!

Working in teams, the children were tasked with using their knowledge of forces, friction, and angles to create a run that would deliberately slow down the marble’s journey from top to bottom. They had to think critically about how to manage momentum, add resistance, and control direction while maintaining a smooth path for the marble to follow.

There were twists, turns, ramps, tunnels, and plenty of innovative ideas on display as teams experimented with different materials and designs. After rigorous testing and careful tweaking, one team emerged as the clear winner.

Congratulations to Yifei, Freddy, and Phoebe, whose carefully engineered marble run clocked in the longest time of 17 seconds, a brilliant achievement that demonstrated thoughtful design and excellent teamwork. Their structure cleverly combined steep angles with high-friction surfaces and clever pacing to delay the marble’s descent just enough.

Well done to all of Year 6 for their enthusiastic participation, collaborative spirit, and inventive thinking. This was a true celebration of STEM learning in action!