"A Big Ramp That Turns a Corner"

Today, several of our friends decided that they wanted to build a "big ramp that turns a corner."  First, they got together and sketched what they wanted the ramp to look like.

"We're making a blueprint like architects."

After sharing their plans, the group decided together where the ramp would start, the direction in which it would go, and where it would end.  They also discussed what types of building materials they would need.  They then got to work collaborating, cooperating, and building.

"We need every piece."

"It's what the blueprint says.  Everything is written on the back."

Going around the shelf.

Turning the corner.

The end of the ramp.

The children discovered that the marbles did not make it all the way around the ramp.  Sometimes they bounced off.  Sometimes they stopped.  The Willows did not give up!  They persisted making adjustments and changes to the ramp along the way, testing out the ramp after each adjustment.

"Can somebody help me fix this?"

 "The marble stopped.  It needs to be higher."

"This will help it turn."

"There's a little crack somewhere in this ramp.  My marbles keep falling in there."

"Oh, I see the problem.  Now try it out."

"We put blocks around the sides to keep the marbles on the ramp."

So far the children got the marbles to successfully travel long about 2/3 of the ramp.  They plan to work some more in order to get the marbles to travel all the way around.