Original Published in Good Play Guide 2023.
This wildly creative super puzzle includes 42 tracks & connectors, 17 trick pieces & 15 marbles for infinite combinations and endless amounts of dynamic fun! This one-of-a-kind marble maze can be built on any vertical magnetic surface like the fridge, lockers, whiteboards, workbenches & more! Brings a new level of excitement to building a marble maze! With its innovative magnetic connectors, kids and adults alike can build, create, and explore engineering and physics on any magnetic surface.
Explore physics and engineering with the different types of track and trick pieces, creating astonishing chain reactions and intricate paths for your marbles. First, select a combination of track, trick, and connector pieces and arrange them creatively on any vertical magnetic surface. Place a marble at the beginning of the course and watch it make its way down your track. As you experiment and create, simply move the pieces around to make adjustments, add new pathways, or build new obstacles. Each track and trick has its own unique properties, but how to set them up is completely up to you—the possibilities are endless!
The National Geographic Magnetic Marble Run isn’t your ordinary marble maze. From the kitchen to the office, it’s an engineering kit with a Rube Goldberg machine-style of play that’s super fun and satisfying. It’s also a fun, collaborative way to connect with family, friends and co-workers! The magnetic connectors work in tandem with the included track and trick pieces for endless marble run combinations and maze-like experiments on any magnetic surface. The connectors are sturdy yet easy to move around as you build and fine-tune your track. Its unique design also means less clutter on the floor, with a handy, durable storage bag to keep all your pieces and marbles safe and secure. And like all National Geographic STEM kits, the 75-Piece Magnetic Marble Run includes a detailed, illustrated Learning Guide to teach the science behind all the fun. Learn how to think like an engineer with an understanding of Newton’s laws of motion, gravity, energy and more!
“This is going to be epic!” – Girl aged 9
“This is a cool thing!” Boy aged 10
Children found this magnetic marble run highly engaging and greatly enjoyed the design and testing process. They were subsequently thrilled with their successes and motivated to redesign by unexpected results. Our testers loved the unique features that allowed them to design, build, and execute the marble run on a vertical metal surface. This gave the tracks a more dynamic appeal. They persevered through the engineering challenges of designing a track with non-connected pieces. The instructions and learning guide posters provide examples of basic to more complex courses that inspire the children. Children can start with basic route designs and increase the complexity at their pace. This set is excellent for hands-on, kinesthetic learners. The National Geographic Magnetic Marble Run fosters the development of logical thinking, problem-solving skills, and hones fine motor skills and executive functioning. Further, it invites socialization and teamwork when children work in pairs or small groups to expand on each design together. Children greatly enjoyed playing together to create their masterpieces. This set is an ideal activity for family and peers.
– Encourages executive functioning
– Develops logical thinking
– Promotes creativity
