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  5. Slo-Mo Marble Challenge
3M Young Innovators Challenge
Slo-Mo Marble Challenge

Leicestershire/Nottinghamshire

Slo-Mo Marble Challenge

  • Slo-Mo Marble Challenge

    What's it about?

    This exciting primary school Challenge is to design and build a slo-mo marble run using materials from a given list, which maximises the time taken by a standard glass marble to roll from the top to the bottom.

    Judges will be looking for evidence of STEM learning through research into gravity; energy; friction; gradient and material properties, together with innovative design and construction methods.

    The run must incorporate a minimum of three different methods of slowing the marble's descent.

    Eligible school year groups: Years 3-6

    Entries accepted from: Individuals or teams of 2-5 students. Schools may submit a maximum of 3 entries for the Challenge. Teams may be mixed age if desired.

    Open to: Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire Authority schools, academies and private schools within the circulation area of the Loughborough Echo or who are members of the Loughborough Learning Alliance. Home-educated children may also participate. See our Terms and Conditions.

    Watch the video to see the creative entries in the 2019 competition.

Information for teachers
    • Download the Slo-Mo Marble Challenge Risk Assessment
    • The aims of the Challenge are to (i) design and build a marble run that maximises the time taken by a standard glass marble to roll from the top to the bottom (ii) maximise students’ learning about relevant science such as gravity, energy, friction, gradient and material properties etc.
    • The run must incorporate a minimum of three different methods of slowing the marble's descent
    • Please refer to the Mark Scheme. Although the time taken for the marble to descend accounts for 35% of the overall marks, it is possible for a marble run with a shorter run time to outperform if it scores highly in other categories such as STEM learning, presentation quality or number of methods of slowing the marble's descent
    • The marble run can only be built from materials on the Materials List
    • The marble run must not extend beyond a plan area of 600 x 600mm at any point
    • The marble must start its run no more than 700mm above the base
    • There is no restriction on the height of any decorative feature or framework
    • The marble run must incorporate an area or container to catch the marble at the end of its run, which must be contained within the 600 x 600mm plan area
    • The marble run must be clearly marked with a finishing line just before the catch/stop area
    • The marble used for testing must be a standard glass marble of between 14-17mm diameter. Textured marbles are not permitted. No coatings, coverings or attachments may be made to the marble itself. The marble should be brought with the marble run to the judging session at 3M
    • The marble may be instantaneously stationary during a change of direction but may not otherwise stop rolling at any point during its run
    • The marble must not be touched by the entrants once it has begun its run, nor be provided with additional energy during its run by any means, such as motors, release of energy stored in springs prior to beginning the run, or similar
    • If the marble stops during its run and fails to reach the bottom, the time taken to reach the point at which it stopped will be taken as the time for the run
    • Each entrant/team will be allowed a maximum of 3 runs, and the longest time taken will be used for judging purposes
    • Marks will be awarded for theming or decoration of the marble run as well as for its performance
    • Marble runs that incorporate a variety of different methods for slowing the marble’s descent will score highly
    • Marble runs should be brought to the judging session in April and do not have to be submitted in advance
    • Entries must be the students’ own work
Important Dates

Closing date for entries: 25 March 2020


Judging: 28, 29 and 30 April 2020 at 3M, Charnwood Campus, 10 Bakewell Road, Loughborough, LE11 5RB. Please indicate your preferred judging date/time on the entry form.

Judging

Entries will be screened to ensure they meet the entry criteria. Students, accompanied by their teacher, will be invited to present their marble runs to the judges and give a presentation of up to 10 minutes on their background research, experimentation, final design and construction. The presentation can take any form (Powerpoint® slides, poster, songs, drama, simple talk etc.) and should aim to build the students’ confidence, communication and presentation skills. The judges will ask questions about the marble run and the students’ work. All members of a team should play a part in the presentation.

Testing
  • The dimensions of the marble run will be checked
  • The marble will be released from the top of the marble run and allowed to roll to the bottom
  • The time taken for the marble to complete its journey will be measured using a digital stopwatch
  • If the marble stops during its run and fails to reach the bottom, the time taken to reach the point at which it stopped will be taken as the time for the run
  • Each entrant/team will be allowed a maximum of 3 runs, and the longest time taken will be used for judging purposes
Prizes

£750 of science or engineering equipment for school use plus a £50 gift voucher for the winning individual or team member. All finalists and their schools will receive a framed certificate.


All entrants will receive a certificate of entry and personalised feedback from the judges.

Mark Scheme

Up to 35 marks for the marble run’s performance, based on the time taken for the marble to roll from the top to the bottom of the run


Up to 30 marks for evidence of STEM learning including:

  • background research
  • idea generation
  • design and material experimentation
  • prototyping
  • overcoming problems and challenges


    • Marble runs must incorporate a minimum of three different methods of slowing the marble’s descent. Additional methods will score more marks


    Up to 20 marks for quality of the presentation


    Up to 15 marks for the marble run’s style, aesthetics and visual appeal


    Total marks available = 100


    The students’ year group will be taken into account when awarding marks.


    Judges will select 4-6 finalists who will be invited to attend the 3M Young Innovators Challenge presentation evening at Charnwood Campus on 19 June 2020.

    Curriculum links
    Links to Science Curriculum (England)

    Year 3 Forces and magnets

    Pupils should be taught to:
  • compare how things move on different surfaces

    • Year 5 Forces and magnets

    Pupils should be taught to:
  • identify the effects of air resistance, water resistance and friction, that act between moving surfaces

    • Non statutory
    Pupils should explore the effects of friction on movement and find out how it slows or stops moving objects.

    Important documents to download

    Please make sure you download these important documents for the Slo-Mo Marble Challenge. Please save the entry form to your device and send as a file attachment to younginnovators@mmm.com.


    If you have any questions, please Get in Touch.
    Please see our Terms and Conditions.

     

    Judges

    • Paul Browning

      Paul Browning

      Paul Browning is the Strategic Medical Writer for 3M’s global Health Care Business. He studied Biological Sciences at Southampton, before a Masters and post-graduate studies at Cranfield, Oxford and Worcester. As a clinical scientist and school Trustee, Paul is passionate about increasing knowledge and experiences in STEM from a young age, to make young people aware of the amazing opportunities that STEM careers can bring.

    • Nishma Trivedi

      Nishma Trivedi

      Nishma Trivedi is a Quality Engineer in the Quality Assurance department at 3M. She studied Biomedical Material Science at University of Manchester and obtained sponsorship to complete a Masters in Polymer Science & Engineering from Unilever. Nishma is keen to develop young minds towards STEM careers and enjoys sharing her passion through supporting careers events and school activities. She is very excited to judge the Slo-Mo Marble Challenge again.

    3M Young Innovators Challenge

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