Ramps, tubes, balls and disks may seem like a simple activity for toddlers, but the learning that comes from it is quite significant. As simple as it may appear, this is a rich STEM activity that introduces concepts such as gravity, motion and force - just to name a few. It also lays the foundation for math skills like counting, sorting objects into groups (fast vs. slow), and comparing observations.
Our toddlers thoroughly enjoyed finding objects around the classroom to test on the ramps and through the tubes. The room was buzzing with excitement and experimentation. They gathered balls, flat circular puzzle pieces, cars and small flat disks.
At first, the ramps were set up on chairs. The children discovered that without gravity, the balls wouldn’t move unless pushed.
“Uh oh…” said Iris, as the ball didn’t quickly roll to the end of the tube.
It took only moments of collective problem-solving for the group to realize that the balls would roll to the end of the ramps if pushed. Once the ramps were moved to a downward position, the children experimented again with their objects using trial and error.
Some objects rolled down the ramp quickly; others did not. The objects that didn’t move down the ramp, like the flat disks, were studied with great interest.
When the tubes were introduced, the toddlers explored and experimented by trying to push objects up through them and quickly learning that the balls could only roll down.
It was a wonderful morning filled with trial and error - and lots of joyful “ weeeeees!”
